Tainted Love

Rating: 4/10 (18 March 2008)

By one scene this film was ruined for me.
Within one day of ending a bad relationship, the character Amanda Woods travels a quarter of the world away from her problem. She's staying in an isolated house in a land unfamiliar to her. It's night. A vulgar drunk, a stranger, pounds on her front door. And what does she do? She opens the door to him. Not Smart. He staggers into the house, then the bathroom, where he urinates the alcohol out of his system. Based upon this first impression she decides she has to have him. They share a drink. He invites himself to stay in the house for the night. She agrees. They move to a couch and begin kissing. She reasons away her self-respect by justifying lust with a stranger. Eight and a half minutes (!) after meeting this man she leads him to the bedroom.
This is what they offer women as an example to follow in romance? This is supposed to be our dream? And at Christmas no less. This scene is human degradation wrapped in a pretty package. With all films it is necessary for the viewer to suspend disbelief. But to suspend your morals, discernment, or basic common sense? No. That is too much to ask. I won't give over my understanding of the difference between what is right and what is wrong to lend dignity to an objectionable idea that's been manipulated to appear beautiful.
With this scene set early as the foundation of the "love" story I couldn't enjoy the remainder of the film. The film was too tainted for any later tenderness to redeem it in my eyes.