Title: Julia
Archstone Distribution
Director: Matthew A. Brown
Writer: Matthew A. Brown
Cast: Ashley C. Williams, Tahyna Tozzi, Jack Noseworthy
Running time: 1hr 35min
Rated: Unrated (brutal rape, strong bloody violence, graphic nudity, language and some drug use)
In theaters on October 23, 2015.
Mousy Julia Shames (Ashley C. Williams, The Human Centipede) is the victim of a gang rape where some preppie guys slip her a Cosby and then leave her for dead. She spirals into a depression until she overhears a group of women at a bar talk about this new, exclusive form of therapy that only caters to victims of violent crime. She is followed by Sadie (Tahyna Tozzi, X-Men Origins: Wolverine), an associate of the therapist and gives Julia a business card telling her where to meet Dr. Sgundud (Jack Noseworthy, The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe ), and her true healing can begin. She is allowed to take it out on other men, but she can never go to the police and she can’t go after the ones who attacked her. Julia starts to enjoy torturing and mutilating men, and it becomes an addiction.
The Good: Those whom are fans of revenge stories will enjoy the extremes Julia goes to overcome her fears and sadness to become a stronger person. The true victim becomes Sadie, who unfortunately falls for Julia whom has been driven mad with revenge. I kind of liked that spin with the characters. Julia is a medical assistant for a plastic surgeon, so she is skilled with a scalpel. That part of her character was also pretty creative.
The Bad: A lot of the extremes Julia goes to to get over her trauma is mostly shot for shock value which makes most of the characters unlikable. We find the reason behind Dr Sgundud’s therapy and it’s kind of insulting to those who have been abused and mutilated, that the only way to get over it is to use violence and torture. She takes random men home and then takes their balls or murders them. She’s not supposed to go after the ass clowns who raped her, but nameless men are okay? She finally rounds up the group of guys that violated her, but is her way justified? Revenge is supposed to be sweet. Castration would’ve been adequate.
I really don’t know how I feel about Julia. There are parts of it that will stay with you days after you’ve seen it. I feel it’s a decent warning to men who troll women in bars. You might want to take her out to dinner; get to know her first. Stay away from one night stands, or else she might have a gang of women hiding in the shadows that will cut your dick off upon orgasm.
Acting:B
Story: D
Technical:C
Total Rating:C-
Reviewed by: JM Willis
