She's Crushed (2009)
Written and directed by Patrick Johnson this is Patrick's second film to reach a wide audience. The first of which was released in 2005 and entitled SideFX. I haven't seen his original film though it sounds like a zombie-ish themed film involving sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Anyone going the zombie route always gets a plus in my book though I'm not here to talk about the undead but about a pyscho stalker film.
On a personal note one of my ex-girlfriends did not want to accept a break up and did carry a picture of me around with her that she would put up at tables she was sitting at. With this in mind, She's Crushed really struck home as a movie that creeped me out since while she was not as insane as the lead in this film I'm sure if her life had been slightly more traumatic or she slightly more crazy at the time something like this would not have been all of that farfetched for me to deal with. That thought scares the hell out of me!
The lead in this film is played by Tara (Natalie Dickinson) and I have to say that I REALLY want to see her get some rolls in a few larger films (aside from the two that are in progress from Patrick Johnson) in a role where she gets to show off her chops again at insanity because she makes it work. The movie itself missed it's mark at being a great film though the character of Tara makes you want to just see where she is going to go. The apparent product of rape and abuse she doesn't go the route of revenge in "I Spit On Your Grave" but instead decided to emulate those who have abused her using a large amount of sex, stalking, obsession, and violence to get exactly what she wants. On top of this her mother is nearly one of the walking dead herself from how badly she is messed up as shown by her brief visits in the psyche ward that she is staying at and on top of this we also find out she is having sex with either her father or step-father.
Early in the film we are introduced to Ray who is supposed to be the main character (even though he is by and large outshined by Tara) and helps her move some luggage. Soon after she sees him drunk and initiates a one night stand. There is only one major problem, Ray has a girlfriend. Instantly she is smitten and develops a crush on Ray and decides that the only way for life to work out is for Ray to be with her. She kills, tortures, lobotomizes, and uses sex to attempt to drive Ray away from the woman that he wants to marry. The amount of twisted torture is shocking on how she is able to pull it off.
This is not a movie to expect a revolutionary horror film or franchise off of (even though it is easily left off for a sequel.) It is though a film that is great to kill some time with on either the weekend or a late night showing. For the most part the acting is only OK but I can’t stress enough that Tara’s character can make a single showing of the movie itself worth seeing.
