PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Sometimes we get frustrated when the things we want are not in our grasp for us to achieve happiness, closure, and comfort. We see others living the perfect life, and we wonder, “Why not us? What am I doing wrong?” We feel trapped and confined by mental capacities. However, in the case of Writer/Director Titus Heckel’s (With Child 2014) Chained, it’s an intellectual corkscrew for two people who are trying to get what they want.
The synopsis of the film:
An abused, bullied boy discovers and befriends a criminal chained inside an abandoned warehouse, but after a violent betrayal, the abused becomes the abuser, putting both of their lives in peril.
Chained explores the idea of a mental cat and mouse game. The whole film has a strong, dramatic feel to it. It’s more of a thriller that relies heavily on mind games. This is something that I truly and honestly loved as it works so well. I do have to say the two actors that drive the film is Marlon Kazadi (Ghostbusters 2021) and Aleks Paunovic (War Of The Planet Of The Apes 2017).
The two have this seesaw of emotions and rapport. It can go from friendly hope to scary tension at the drop of a dime. It doesn’t feel like I’m watching two movies or that the actors can’t perform both emotions. They play perfectly against each other. There’s parts where they show hope and fear. The plot device is something we are all too familiar with, but Chained delivers on this well-seasoned trope. The characters in the film all have stories. Their arcs play out where each character gets enough time to tell their story, and I’m glad it doesn’t take away from the overall film. It’s perfectly balanced.
Chained grabs your interest right off the bat and keeps you on the edge of your seat. There are times where Marlon’s character, Taylor, will do things to help himself. It can come off a bit wrong, but it’s a survival instinct for him to help him break free of the mental chains that ground him. It made me wonder if one of these characters would change for the better leading right up to an explosive ending. I feel satisfied and even want to watch Chained again for the story and performances. It’s not a film where you have to be afraid of missing stuff, which is a good thing for those who feel like they need to analyze every detail of every scene to figure out what’s going on. Where are the flaws of the film? I’m sure others will see it may point them out. Not all films are perfect. However, with this film, it was hard for me to point out something negative. The movie may have a title that’s been used for several movies, but this is a film worth looking into.
Chained is now available on VOD, be sure to check it out!
