Reviewed by Shannon Hilson
You’d have to be living under a rock not to have experienced the ubiquitous hype surrounding the recent Valentine’s Day release of Fifty Shades of Grey, the film adaptation of E.L. James’s erotic novel of the same name.
Maybe you’re of the camp that sees Christian Grey as a brooding, romantic figure to fantasize about. Maybe you see Fifty Shades as disgusting, misogynistic trash that glorifies troublesome (but all too relevant) horrors like domestic abuse, stalking, and brainwashing. Whichever camp you hail from, it’s more than a little likely that you have strong opinions about the film, the characters, and the way the storyline addresses certain themes.
That’s exactly why I was intrigued when I first caught wind of Michael Matteo Rossi’s Misogynist.
Misogynist has been described by writer/director Rossi as “the antidote to Fifty Shades of Grey”. He had this to say about that approach in a recent interview:
“’Misogynist’ doesn’t try to hide or shade away from being anything that it’s not: it is a character driven thriller about a sick twisted individual and who he poisons along the way. It is not propagandist or woman-hating or man-loving; it simply is a window into a man’s life and we as the audience, as much as we will cringe and be disturbed, simply can’t turn away from watching.”
Being familiar with Fifty Shades (and not being much of a fan of it), that really got my attention, so I was glad to have a chance to screen the film myself.
Misogynist introduces us to a charismatic, handsome, and undeniably charming figure by the name of Trevor (Jon Briddell). Trevor is an unapologetic chauvinist that specializes in offering educational underground seminars for young men. The seminars promise to teach these men how to get what they want out of all women. He tells them that without exception, women secretly yearn to be hurt and dominated as a matter of basic biology. He also seeks to teach them the secrets of how to tap into the way a woman’s brain works, the better to use her however one wishes.
We also meet Harrison (Jonathan Bennett of Mean Girls fame). Harrison, having recently been hurt by a woman himself, seems to constitute the perfect candidate for Trevor’s teachings. Over time, Harrison becomes Trevor’s number one student and makes plans to apply what he’s learned to his relationship with his sweet-natured and very Catholic fiancée, April (Danielle Lozeau).
As the plot unfolds, we learn more about all of the characters involved, including the mysterious Trevor. Doubts arise as to Trevor’s true motives as we are treated to more and more insight about the character’s history and true quality of life outside of his seminars and projected image. The result is a surprisingly poignant portrait of an unbalanced individual, the elements that converge to create such an individual, and the consequences that ensue when such individuals seek to infect other people’s lives with their warped world views.
I expected to find Misogynist interesting. What I didn’t expect was for the movie to actually get into the character’s heads and explore their motivations to the extent that it did. If you’ve written Misogynist off as a film that condones chauvinism and violence against women without seeing it first, you should rethink your stance because that’s not what this is. I’d be more apt to describe it as a solid independent thriller with depth that successfully tackles some difficult topics in a way Fifty Shades woefully failed to do – particularly narcissism, abuse, and control. It’s edgy and disturbing without being disgusting. It’s cringe-inducing and gritty without feeling like a shallow collection of cheap scares and shocks as well.
Misogynist has already generated some acclaim, a few noteworthy accolades (including “Best Narrative Feature” at the Los Angeles Underground Film Festival), and a lot of buzz. I would personally have to say it’s deserved. I was impressed with the writing, as well as the care that went into the telling of Trevor’s and Harrison’s stories. I also loved the performances all of the actors turned in, especially those in pivotal roles.
Jon Briddell creates a character in Trevor that is undeniably despicable, but also human. You simultaneously want to give him a black eye and learn more about him throughout the film. Danielle Lozeau turns in an emotional performance as the gentle, virginal April. I also greatly enjoyed seeing Jonathan Bennett play a character with a bit of a dark side – a nice change from Mean Girls’ Aaron Samuels – proving that he has a lot of range as an actor. Alia Raelynn, Eve Mauro, soap star Tracey E. Bregman, and more turn in excellent performances in supporting roles as well.
All in all, Misogynist is a well-crafted, intriguing look at some of today’s most pressing issues when it comes to concepts like gender roles, respect, narcissism, abuse, and emotional damage at the hands of some of the thornier human experiences in life. It would be well worth your while to check it out when it hits VOD and DVD March 3rd.
SOURCE: More Horror – Read entire story here.