Mark Kee
Magistrate
Review of movie “The Passion of Isabel”
Director Jac Avila's latest film, “The Passion of Isabel,” (RedFeline Films) is another sumptuous feast of colorful cruelty. As is the case in most of his other films there is a setup here to provide a reason for the torture being inflicted on beautiful female bodies. In this case, there is just one female, Isabel, played by the lovely Beatriz Rivera. The setup is dispensed with quickly-- Her father wanted her to marry this man, the torturer, and she refused. Later, in an argument with her father, he falls and dies. She is then arrested and taken to the torturer, who can now inflict any pain his inventive mind can imagine on her slim, gorgeous body. From there on it is all bondage, rape, floggings, sessions on the rack, foot torture, and, finally, crucifixion on a huge wheel. Yes, with nails. (actually frightfully large spikes!)
Essential to this type of presentation is the humility and innocence of the victim. Rivera personifies that with her almost angelic appearance. Her long dark hair that hangs almost to her waist also lends to the feminine quality of her victimhood. Her facial expressions while being whipped are convincing and one wonders to what extent she really felt the lashes while filming the scenes.
In the early stages of the whipping there are red marks on her back that look real, but as it goes on the effect is created with fake blood and makeup. Isabel's naked body is finally covered with wounds and she swoons stretched out on the wheel with her hands and feet nailed to the rim and the only way to end her suffering is death.
One problem that somewhat distracts from the intensity of the film is continuity errors during some scenes. For example, we have just seen her feet bloodied by torture while she is stretched on the rack and then when she is taken off the rack in order to proceed to another painful experience her feet seemed to have been miraculously healed. This is sometimes a problem with the whipping as well. The marks and cuts oozing blood look a little different from one scene to another.
Another problem in this film was the over use of handheld camera shots that moved in and out from Isabel as she suffered. This gave an amateurish look to an otherwise professionally produced film.
But given the low budget and the nature of this kind of filmmaking “The Passion of Isabel” looks very good. The warm lighting and the medieval style set add greatly to the pleasure of viewing the cruelties inflicted on this young, innocent girl. And let's face it, that is what we come to see. These films provide well designed and crafted depictions of scenes from our own dark fantasies.
Jac Avila, who has made most of his latest films in his native Bolivia, seems to have kinks almost perfectly in alignment with my own, so my favorable judgment is certainly influenced by that. However, anyone who watches this film will enjoy the professional quality of the images and the creativity of the presentation overall. When you hear the whip crack against Isabel's tender skin and see her wince in pain, you can't help but feel a thrill.
I would recommend that you go to RedFeline.com and buy the film for streaming on a computer using the FluxPlayer, which is a free download. You can then watch it over and over as many times as your perversity demands.
Director Jac Avila's latest film, “The Passion of Isabel,” (RedFeline Films) is another sumptuous feast of colorful cruelty. As is the case in most of his other films there is a setup here to provide a reason for the torture being inflicted on beautiful female bodies. In this case, there is just one female, Isabel, played by the lovely Beatriz Rivera. The setup is dispensed with quickly-- Her father wanted her to marry this man, the torturer, and she refused. Later, in an argument with her father, he falls and dies. She is then arrested and taken to the torturer, who can now inflict any pain his inventive mind can imagine on her slim, gorgeous body. From there on it is all bondage, rape, floggings, sessions on the rack, foot torture, and, finally, crucifixion on a huge wheel. Yes, with nails. (actually frightfully large spikes!)
Essential to this type of presentation is the humility and innocence of the victim. Rivera personifies that with her almost angelic appearance. Her long dark hair that hangs almost to her waist also lends to the feminine quality of her victimhood. Her facial expressions while being whipped are convincing and one wonders to what extent she really felt the lashes while filming the scenes.
In the early stages of the whipping there are red marks on her back that look real, but as it goes on the effect is created with fake blood and makeup. Isabel's naked body is finally covered with wounds and she swoons stretched out on the wheel with her hands and feet nailed to the rim and the only way to end her suffering is death.
One problem that somewhat distracts from the intensity of the film is continuity errors during some scenes. For example, we have just seen her feet bloodied by torture while she is stretched on the rack and then when she is taken off the rack in order to proceed to another painful experience her feet seemed to have been miraculously healed. This is sometimes a problem with the whipping as well. The marks and cuts oozing blood look a little different from one scene to another.
Another problem in this film was the over use of handheld camera shots that moved in and out from Isabel as she suffered. This gave an amateurish look to an otherwise professionally produced film.
But given the low budget and the nature of this kind of filmmaking “The Passion of Isabel” looks very good. The warm lighting and the medieval style set add greatly to the pleasure of viewing the cruelties inflicted on this young, innocent girl. And let's face it, that is what we come to see. These films provide well designed and crafted depictions of scenes from our own dark fantasies.
Jac Avila, who has made most of his latest films in his native Bolivia, seems to have kinks almost perfectly in alignment with my own, so my favorable judgment is certainly influenced by that. However, anyone who watches this film will enjoy the professional quality of the images and the creativity of the presentation overall. When you hear the whip crack against Isabel's tender skin and see her wince in pain, you can't help but feel a thrill.
I would recommend that you go to RedFeline.com and buy the film for streaming on a computer using the FluxPlayer, which is a free download. You can then watch it over and over as many times as your perversity demands.
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