I thought this might be one of those films that would be "good for me" to see. I was mildly intrigued by descriptions of the story I had read and with the trailer, so I thought to take a chance. I took someone very close to me, an actual violin prodigy. Coincidently, her and I have recently been searching for a decent violin for her that is affordable by actual humans, so we could relate to parts of the plot first-hand. We arrived to a very thin theater in one of those mega-complex theaters, and while everyone was queuing up next-door to see the latest blockbuster from Hollywood I settled into an amazingly comfortable seat with an excellent view and prepared for whatever might come.

I was shocked. This film turned out to be clearly one of the best movie going experiences I have had in ages. We see this as the story unfolds and is creatively told through the reading of the violin makers wife's fortune with a deck of Tarot cards. It is the story of a part of the life of a violin; of the humans who would dare to possess her beauty. A masterpiece of a craftsman's art, it is desired by many for it's acoustic perfection. But, as Tolstoy said, "how complete is the delusion that beauty is goodness." Or more interestingly, from Saint Augustine: "Beauty is indeed a good gift of God; but that the good may not think it a great good, God dispenses it even to the wicked." There seems to be a curse on this instrument as it brings ill to those who manage to possess it. This makes the ending especially eerie.

An original, imaginative and thought provoking story that engaged one's mind as American films almost never do. I will not describe more of the plot, it's far too good to ruin. The memory of this film will be one long treasured.

Oh, as for my guest, the honest-to-God prodigy: she said the music was magnificent (it was) even though a real musician could tell the actors weren't playing, it was well done.


What can you say about a film that covers three centuries, people from all stations of society, and several European countries and Canada. Ambitious is a good start. This film was very well crafted and at about one hundred forty minutes was too short for me. The story follows a red violin, an inanimate object, although at times it seemed alive to me, thru three centuries and the influences good and ill that it has on its possessors. It does ever seem to be owned. Each of its possessors lives a life of passion and turmoil. The violin's birth is during turmoil and during its life it buried, shot, and almost burned. The writing which includes this parallel between the violin and its possessor , five somewhat independent segments that mell and converge in the final scenes, and a story told by tarot cards make for an extremely unique experience. Add to that the musical score, scenery, the varied languages and cultures and you have a great offering. The performances were all strong, but I thought Jason Flemyng as Lord Frederick Pope stood out. To say his character was eccentric and maybe a little over the top is justifiable but I'm sure that was intended. English nobility has always been known for its idiosyncrasies. The ending has incongruous feel with the remainder of the film but is satisfactory and I can not suggest a better one. Great entertainment! Three and a half stars!!!


this movie, like a book of short stories, can hook you once and annoy you the next. The segments follow a violin for 3 centuries obviously shooting for a wide range of settings, thus a wide range of stories and characters. But they are all much different. The Red Violin will be rewarding for those who pay attention, and a pain for those who don't, because the transaction of the violin from person to person isn't smooth, whoever is not willing to pay attention should steer clear. I definitely recommend it to all big movie buffs, because those willing to see it, should. I really enjoyed Don Mcellars work before, and this is no different. Some segments, like 'Vienna' are very enjoyable and sad (in a good way, like bambi's mom getting shot) well some like 'Oxford' are dark and depressing. You may not leave thinking it's spectacular, but ya gotta respect it. Thumbs up.


People people people. Whew. Let's not be hasty, selfish or unreasonable. Sure this movie had it's flaws. The Locale's may have seemed just a teensy bit artificial(the most common critique), but downing the movie because Sam Jackson "stole" the violin, and on top of that attributing it to his color is downright UNCALLED FOR!

And further more, to say that "the times we live in" are the reason for us over looking the fact the violin was whisked away immorally is a clear fall back on cliche for a lack of intelligence. Because that's what this person is challenging. The morality of what Jackson did in the closing moments of the movie. If we were to really analyze the morality from each owner to the next, we would find that morality was not really the wave of fortune the violin was riding on(it was stolen from a grave for crying out loud, not to mention almost burned for simply being... a violin). If not liking it because of it's closing immorality is not missing the point and the essence and the true exsistence of this film, then I don't know what is.

This movie, as shockingly revealed as it was, was not about the life of this inanimate object. Surely the violin did not have a life. It was merely the carrier for the essence of the character of Anna Bussotti, Nicolo's wife. Because he used her to complete the instrument, it was endowed with her essence. That is where you are to find your morality in the tale. That life, our life, our essence, our being, is lived not only in our bodies, in these pathetic heaps of flesh and bone, but in everything around us. The morality is that Nicolo's love for his wife, made her immortal in the violin, and her song, was a gift passed down to each of the ones touched by the violin's life.

Therefore it is quite inconsequential, the morality of the people(and their actions) and events surrounding the violin, to say that it is the times we live in, or the race of the man stealing the violin, because the story encompasses a much higher enlightenment. Easily seen, too, if you don't analyze the mistemperments and shortcomings of the people surrounding the voilin to a point where they consume your vision, blocking the "true" lesson or moral, or whatever you want to call it. The lesson, or better put: the essence of "life".

Tres bien by Girard. An easy 10/10.


Just to tease those who have not seen this incredible work of art and to make the others think you should see it again !

Who could think that a movie about a simple violin could turn into such magnificent beauty? «The Red Violin» whole story is based on a piece of wood and strings, which carries a whole story of humanity and social issues. We travel through 400 years of history and music, to end up in what you might think is the end of the story of the «red violin» but in fact, takes you to the next chapter.

If you are a classical and historical music fan, you will love this movie. The Oscar to composer John Corigliano was not an option.

François Girard clearly has something for music, as he did another wonderful movie about pianist Glenn Gould, «Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould», a movie that really drives us through the life of a great piano interpreter. Quite different from «The Red Violin», but quite good too. I can't wait to see his next movie, if he ever plans to do one, but the challenge to surpass «The Red Violin» is quite big.


Corruption, fortune telling, lust, and revolution. Not exactly what is expected from a movie named The Red Violin (Le Violon Rouge).

Writer/director Francois Girard's dark tale takes us on a journey following Nicolo Bussotti's masterpiece known only as "the Red Violin", named for its unique red varnish. The Italian violin maker's wife, Anna, is soon going to be giving birth. The mother, wanting to know the future of her baby calls upon a servant to tell its future with the help of her Tarot cards. When the mother and baby die, Bussotti is left with nothing but his unfinished work. The most perfect violin in the entire world.

The violin makes its way around Europe into the hands of an orphanage where the children all learn to play the violin. One boy in particular, Kaspar Weiss, is considered a child prodigy. He is taken in by Georges Poussin who hopes to make him into the next Mozart. The journey of the violin does not end here. The violin travels across Europe once more and eventually ends up in China. What was meant to be a gift has become In present-day Montreal, the violin that was once going to be the prize possession of Bussotti's baby is now up for auction. Several violin connoisseurs and enthusiasts are present to witness the unveiling of the magnificent stringed instrument, including Charles Morritz (Samuel L. Jackson). A person from the violin's past is represented by family or organizations to claim it.

It is rare to find a film with the main character being an inanimate object that travels so much. All of the characters are linked by this one instrument through one way or another. The violin's itself is steeped in mystery right until the very end of the film. Everywhere it goes there is one thing it carries with it: the ability to enchant, dazzle, and endanger those who come into contact with it.

The film excels in all areas. The cinematography is extremely tasteful and compliments the Academy Award winning score with its flowing movements and well thought out shots. One scene in particular the violin changes hands several times yet it remains in the same part of the frame with each person. It almost appears that the world is revolving around the violin.

The one part of the film that stands out has to be the story. The chopped up storytelling much like that of 21 Grams and Pulp Fiction (although not as chopped up and graphic) is incredibly hard to do. It can't be too hard to follow or too easy to figure out. Girard perfectly executes what it should be. The story is easy to follow but keeps you guessing the whole way through. Unlike some directors, Girard uses the languages of the countries that the violin travels through. Some would have had English all the way through. This story seems too real to be fiction.

The Red Violin is an absolute joy to watch. It isn't one genre. There is mystery, crime, romance, drama, and scandal. The senses will be delighted with colors and sounds from all time periods and places. This is truly a great movie going experience.


This movie is wonderfully executed. It would be a shame to know too much about this movie before watching it. Therefore I leave NO SPOILERS, they would only ruin the movie for you. I almost never feel a movie deserves a ten, but this is one of the few that do. The movie traverses several continents and spans almost four centuries. There are incredibly realistic settings and foreign languages that made me feel as though I were there. The sweeping cinematography and the music are absolutely amazing. The storyline is very moving and touches upon a host of emotions. A majority of the movie has foreign language, but you can activate the subtitles. I watched it first without the subtitles and was so taken by the movie, I watched it a second time with the titles and realized I had missed very little. The actions and facial expressions of the people do an excellent job of revealing their emotions. Trying to read the titles became distracting. I didn't need them so I turned them off. There were several instances where the hauntingly beautiful music gave me goosebumps. I certainly hope it touches you as deeply as it did me. As the movie progressed, I began to suspect the fortune teller was speaking not of the life of the expectant woman sitting before her, but of the violin. That point is not made clear until the final minutes of the movie. To tell you more would ruin the ending. When you learn how the violin acquired its captivating shade of red you will most likely be stunned at first, but then touched by the thought behind it and the bittersweetness of the moment. I am certain the violin masters' heart was breaking as he applied the colour.


Independent movies or Asian and European films (to make it easy, let's say all movies that haven't been produced by some big Hollywood studio), always seem to have a certain group of fans, not because they are good, but because they are "different". That so-called in-crowd believes that every movie that hasn't been made by a big studio is great art and that all other movies are bad. Never tell them that sometimes the opposite can be true, because they can't and won't believe you. Well, I'm not one of them and I watch all movies with a critical eye. And yes, I try to see as many of those "alternative" movies as well. But that's just because I'm a movie buff who is interested in all kinds of movies, not because I'm convinced that this kind of movies is automatically a lot better than the rest.

In this movie we don't follow some people, but a violin on its journey through time and the world. The movie starts in present day Montreal, where "the red violin", a famous Nicolo Bussotti violin, is being auctioned off. But instead of staying with the auction all the time, we flash back to the creation of the violin in 17th century Italy and then follow it as it makes its way through an 18th century Austrian monastery/orphanage, a violinist in 19th century Oxford and China during Mao's Cultural Revolution... Each time it brings the person who owns it a lot of fame, but also bad luck and despair, often resulting in the death of the owner or someone the owner really loves...

What I appreciated in this movie is that it wasn't just an ordinary drama or thriller. It actually tried to be original and it succeeded very well. Another thing that I also really liked was the fact that not every detail of the movie was clear until the end (for instance why the fortune teller's predictions come true, but not for the woman, but for the violin instead.). It sometimes seems that the creators of movies don't even bother about adding some mystery in their movies anymore and I really miss that. That's probably why I liked it so much in this one.

Once in a while you come across a movie that you might call a gem. Well, "The Red Violin" is one of those truly magnificent gems. It's beautiful in every possible way. The music is excellent (although you better love violin music, because that's all you'll here), the acting is very nice and the story really is very beautiful. I guess I could talk for hours about this movie, but it's better to watch it than to read about it, so I'll end my review by saying that this is a wonderful and very musical movie that doesn't deserve any less than an 8.5/10.


It has been quite a long time since I have viewed a film that told such a wonderful story so beautifully & in such a touching way. The music, the mood, the settings just made the film so real, so authentic in such a way the you cannot help but feel the passion this film is so full of. The concept of the film which follows the violin through the years from its birth to the present day & how it has touched the people in its presence is unique & done in such a way that reaches out to you to feel its impact. The physical settings only authenticate things, while some films with subtitles can be sometimes awkward, this films' subtitles only make you feel the film more & draw you into the story more. Lovingly filmed, a score that that is memorable & so absolutely perfect. This film touched me in a way very few ever have. I genuinely felt this movie & a treasure like this does not come along very often.


This is a wonderful movie. Its as simple as that. And Samuel L. Jackson small role in the film is worth what ever the cost for you to view it. The scene when he is listening to the playing of the Red Violin can not be put into words. Its a feeling, and he put that feeling dead smack in the middle of me where I couldn't ignore it, or bottle it up. Bravo Mr Jackson. You are truly a great artist.


This movie is of a flashback to history "genre", but I think it is the first I have seen which runs on three time lines. There is the pregnant woman at the beginning of the film having her fortune read one afternoon in the 1600's, there is the modern day SamJackson doing his violin consulting work over the span of a week, and then there are all times in all the years between. The movie saunters among these three times, like moving between delicacies on your dinner plate, with a taste here taste there, etc. I like how it was put together, and I like the passion running throughout the film. I had to give it a "10", and I hope you do too, since it is so much better than some of the films on the "top 250" list. This deserves to be there.


This could have been a great movie had the end been different. It is just too much America over it (the ending). I would have been more satisfied if the final had been another and in the same line as the rest of the movie, but maybe if it would, the spectators would have not been so many?

Nevertheless, Samuel L. Jackson makes a good appearance in a film that was always going to be very good directed by François Girard with the sounds of Esa Pekka Salonen and Joshua Bell (solo violinist).

I loved the costumes and makeup for the 18th century part which happened to be the best part, I reckon. Obviously from my comments above, I liked the last one the least. The ending is not poor, but I felt it could have been done better with a more satisfying outcome.

You will be enlightened should you decide to watch this flick. It has an outstanding beautiful sound track. I recommend this to anyone.


As I was watching this film, I realized how similarly structured this film was to 'Traffic': the jumps in time that seem startling, yet turn out to be very smooth transitions, uniting many beautiful histories into one legendary story.


This is one of my favorite movies of the last decade. I went to see this in the theatre simply because I had never heard of it and the starting time was right. I had no idea what was in store for me. My companions and I left this movie in silence, each of us running the story back over in our heads. We talked about it for hours afterward, each of us enjoying different parts most. I have since purchased the video and watched it two or three more times, still loving it each time.

The story of the red violin's journey across time and continents is fascinating and engrossing. The film feels like four or five films woven seamlessly into one. The feel for each country and time in the story is crafted beautifully, and the scenery is breathtaking. The premise of the story being told through a fortune teller's predictions is clever, and the flashback/forward method is well done here.

The only real flaw in this movie is Samuel L. Jackson. Don't get me wrong--I'm a huge fan of his work--I just believe that he was terribly miscast in this role. He just doesn't fit. But for a few moments when his superb acting absorbs me, I am distracted by his presence. Unfortunately, there are many scenes where his acting is flat, at best. I feel that just about any other similarly talented actor could have pulled off this role more effectively.

To anyone who has not seen this movie--what are you waiting for?!


I initially viewed the movie in it's theatrical release and thought it was an incredible production. Fabulous story, great music and wonderful cinematography. I was looking forward to adding this title to my collection, but no widescreen version! This is a movie that deserves to be kept in it's theatrical form. I hope the producers will re-release this as a widescreen DVD!


This is not a light-weight, commercial or formula, film. It is a brave journey into the human soul. The "damsel in distress" is an inanimate object, the Red Violin. It evokes varied, sometimes profound, emotional reactions from all who see it for what it is.

There are many fine performances, especially by Samuel L. Jackson. Excellent direction.


This is a movie lover's movie. The perfect characters, sensual landscapes, delicious textures, and altogether mysterious plot. Although the riddle is not difficult to solve...in fact you may very quickly...the joy is in the getting there. The story weaves about in time and space, forming a fabric so fine that in the end you have lived a lifetime in the arms of the Red Violin. This is the perfect movie for a rainy autumn Sunday afternoon when everything is quiet but the popping of the fire and the creaking of your favorite easy chair.


I enjoyed this movie a lot. The lives of the people that used or were associated with the violin were fascinating, along with its near destruction on more than one occasion. Acting was solid all through. I thought the very end was an unnecessary twist that didn't really make a lot of sense. They could've figured out something better. But all in all a good show, worth watching again sometime.


A violin will transport you through time as it's fortune is played out over 4 hundred years in this totally captivating and intriguing story. It's one of the best spun tales on film in recent times. A rare film of beauty, emotion and quiet humor. It's not often that a film succeeds and satisfies on so many levels as this. The richness of life is built on it's simple twists of fate and this film opens the door on the secrets held within an exquisite instrument known as the Red Violin. Don't miss out!


Sam Jackson never disappoints. I loved this movie! I didn't know what to expect, and was surprised at how good it was. My husband even liked it, which is somewhat unusual, as it was partially subtitled. A wonderfully told story, with a great plot twist, and an enthralling climax. A "must see" for anyone with a brain.

10/10...again...I don't give this rating very often.


This movie is absolutely tremendous. I found the story mesmerizing with it's unique structure of story telling. The opening was nice and slow, leading the audience in, and following with good pacing. Of course, the plot was helped by spectacular cinematography and music. Even if you don't love the violin, you must watch this movie! Far better than any summer blockbuster you'll watch.


For starters, this movie is more than it seems. It is more than just an epic following the history of a certain violin. It is more than a poetic journey through time. It is the last true masterpiece of the 90's. It is a beautiful grouping of cinematography, characters, music, and most of all, heart. The makes of this film saw more to everything than just a red violin with various owners. They saw an opportunity to tell a story that rivals the Old Testament. If only the Academy could recognize such beautiful work, then they'd not be condemned.

If you've not seen this movie, see it now. Rent it, rent it again, rent it again, and then buy it. Buy it on VHS. Buy it on DVD. Buy the soundtrack 7 times so it never wears out.


I can not say enough good things about this movie masterpiece. Like the film "The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc", "The Red Violin" contains the rare mixture of drama, music, mystery/suspense, a great cast all the way around, good attention to detail, a good ending, and a cohesive tale that tells a story over a lengthy period of time.

The different time epochs and cultures displayed in the movie were all done with quality, and I enjoyed the different languages (English, Italian, French, German, Chinese) and subtitles during the course of this film (I speak some of all of these tongues except Chinese).

An appreciation of violin music also developed in me as the movie continued, as well as that of violin players and the history of the instrument. I even am considering giving the instrument a go at it.

As some of the viewers have commented, I also am appalled that "The Red Violin" did not receive an Oscar nomination for best picture/best producer/best director. This film is truly a masterpiece that should linger in the memories of any appreciative person lucky enough to discover this under-publicized film. What a tremendous oversight by whoever claims to recognize works of art at the Academy.

9 out of 10.


How can music have the power to stir one's soul? Perhaps it lies not in the music itself, but within all that the music comes with- the history of it. Its past, all the different hands that have gone into shaping it, the work of the individual that creates that music at that moment. Music is the most delicate of the arts, for once created, it can never be re-created identically. And each moment is fleeing, dynamic, related to the moment before and the moment that follows.

This movie follows the path of a violin, as it exchanges hands over centuries, touches lives, brings passion and pain. The theme of the movie, first hummed by the violin-maker's wife, becomes the voice of the violin, linking the human soul with that of the violin. I wouldn't go so far as to say that her soul inhabited the violin, as other reviews here have. However, I think the movie tries to show how everything that has occured in the life of this violin has affected and shaped it, made it into the perfect musical instrument it is.

I was especially impressed by the performance of the little boy in vienna. He is actually playing the violin- amazing!!! And the soundtrack, of course, is incredible. Joshua Bell is God.

Above all, this movie is about passion. Feelings are not just intangible wisps of nothingness that vanish as soon as they are created. They remain in the vessels that create them, and in the vessels that are affected by them. In this case, all the passion that surrounded this violin became a part of it. When one person played it, the music brought back the memories of all those who had played it before.

The story is slower than most movies today, yes. But why let that dissuade you? Why go see a movie if you aren't willing to let it take you in, absorb you, and free you from the time contraints of everyday life? The movie is made to be watched, not as an accompaniment to popcorn. Let the story be spun around you, and take things in as they come. Trust in the storyteller to unfold the events fully and satisfactorily. You have all the time in the world to watch this movie.

Finally, let the music itself envelop you. Feel the sweep of the phrases and the rich fullness in the violin's voice. Enjoy the lopsided, fun, gypsy's theme (my personal favorite), the firey passion of pope' theme, the frenzied desperateness that comes with the little boy in vienna. Take in the despair that was the cultural revolution in China, where anna's theme, full of longing and sadness, comes to its prime.

Anna knows she is going to die, hence her melancholy humming. The violin became her child, her last creation, and her voice. See this movie, and let it take you in.


If you ever wondered why certain items are considered more valuable than others, this film will answer all of your questions. The red violin is the perfect instrument, created by 'Nicolo Bussonti' a passionate perfectionist for his fatally ill wife. As we follow the life of the violin, we are exposed to several cultures, as is the violin itself, absorbing every ounce of love and despair, through it's travels around the world.

The present day story allows us to look back on it's life, but also gives us an opportunity to realize it's value, from the eyes of expert 'Charles Morritz', played by Samuel L. Jackson. There is one problem, this expert has become as obsessed with the instrument as it's past owners, but even more so because he has discovered a secret, shared only by the violin and it's creator.


I don't usually comment on these so don't mind if I'm not that well versed. For one thing, I truly believe that this film should have gotten more Academy Award nominations besides the one that it got.

This film is exquisite and unique by any standards. First take the plot. The movie follows a rare and special 'red violin' over three centuries. It finally ends up in an auction where it is being eyed by the obsessed Charles Morritz [Samuel L. Jackson]. Throughout the movie we follow the journey of the violin and the lives of all who touched it. Upon the climax, we learn all the secrets of the violin. This movie had everything. Beautiful costumes, excellent acting, great visual effects, stunning cinematography, and a suspenseful plot.

If you love suspense, drama, and mystery this movie is for you.


The Red Violin is a fantastic, passionate, romantic journey across time and space. It is a must see for anyone who appreciates music. The film is easily one of my favorites, it features incredibly beautiful scenery, a passionate story, and fantastic performances by all actors. The story is quite dismal throughout, but is one of the best modern day tragedies I have seen in a long time. I applaud Monsieur Girard for his creativity and skill in this film, and I highly suggest any other production of M. Girard (Specifically 'Thirty-Two Short Films About Glenn Gould', a film about an eccentric Canadian pianist, definitely one of the greatest genius' of our time).


I got this movie, primarily to see how it's soundtrack (which is great) related to the storyline. I was shocked to see how good the movie was! The movie is whitty, and kept my interest for the entire duration of the movie. Even my wife, who frequently dislikes indie films, enjoyed the movie. Rent it!


Definitely worth the rental bucks, despite the occasional but forgivable schmaltz at points. Good soundtrack, evidence of John Hughes III and his friendship with Tortoise-guy John McEntire, and a very atmospheric, hazy look to the whole picture. Wonderful moments of quiet, and shots held longer than I'm used to seeing in a Hollywood film. Oddly casual, and quite enjoyable.


I was really surprised I didn't hear anything about this when in theaters, it being from John Hughes and all. Typical Hughes - good story, heartfelt, funny - it has everything a good movie should have.


I was flipping channels on a boring Saturday afternoon and I came across it because there wasn't anything interesting to watch at the time. In a matter of minutes I was absorbed into the story. It was very interesting surprisingly because there was so much silence and very little dialogue. At the end, you see one of the main characters on a rock but I had no idea why but after reading the plot on this site I realize why. It reminded me of my other favorites: Pretty in Pink and Breakfast Club. But now I know why since this is a John Huges film. I always thought Molly Ringwald was the prettiest actress I ever saw, but after seeing Brooke Langton, that may not be the case. You should definitely watch this film. If you do not enjoy the story you will enjoy watching Langton.


I wanted to say that I concur with the previous members' reviews of REACH THE ROCK. This movie holds a special place in my heart, because it was partially filmed in my own town, Westmont, Illinois. The park district and senior center were dramatically remodeled, with SHERMER POLICE DEPARTMENT on our senior center. John Hughes' crew and production company were in town a few weeks. The dramatic events that took place during the filming were amazing! Never being on a film set, and having our town being used for the film made it especially memorable. Only bad part was that the scene where the main character "escapes" from the jail, and steals the squad car were probably 4 mins. of the entire film. Another community about 25 miles away (West Chicago, IL) was used for other parts of the film. I was disappointed that it never made it to the big screen. I caught it on our local WGN-TV one Sunday afternoon, purely out of coincidence. It is a story worth watching, so I do recommend it.


The acting was awesome by that brendan fletcher guy. James Earl Jones was unbelivabe and the story line was great. Movie fans, movie critics and just plain ordinary people, this is a must see. Others feel free to comment on my comment. thanks for reading.


This movie is the most utmost movie about a black man who becomes friends with this white family. The movie is very well planned out and thought of with a lot of creativity. If i had ten thumbs, i would give him ten thumbs up. This movie shows today how hard it is for black people to make friends with white people. In a way it is still hard but it's starting to progress slowly because there still is a little racism out there somewhere. James Earl Jones needs ten Grammies for this movie along with the cast. Now i have to go out and buy this movie on DVD hopefully if it's on there. I have watched this movie last Sunday it was so good that i thought i wasn't going to be able to go to church. But it went off though so i could go. thank you for letting me post my comment. Have a nice day


This movie was a pleasant surprise for me. Expecting a sentimental and preachy TV movie about the evils of racism, I was given a beautifully acted and subtle movie about how racism can develop and consume people. This happened primarily through the journey of the older brother - played superbly by Brendan Fletcher (who I'm sure is destined for Hollywood stardom). His hatred for the James Earl Jones character develops from his jealousy of the relationship Jones builds with his younger brother. His jealousy makes it easy for bigots to develop racism in him. It's also fascinating to see how Jones (what a great actor he is) is also almost consumed by racism in a totally different way, as his persecution starts to make him bitter and angry to all whites (even his young friend) and even to his own family.

This is powerful stuff and the cast are all fine, including young Jake LeDoux and Wendy Crewson as the mother. The piece is also beautifully photographed, written and directed. I highly recommend this film - and look out for Brendan Fletcher!


I've seen many movies lately, but this one won my heart. Summer's end brings to you the warmth of a sincere friendship between a man and a young boy, but more than that, it shows this friendship as it's seen by the boy, who is capable of anything to keep this relationship based on trust and love...

I can compare this movie to Mel Gibson's The Man Without a Face, where again we have a great movie about a friendship between a man and a boy, both overcoming all the hate that comes from the people around them.


"Summer's End" tells the story of a retired black doctor (Jones) who buys lakeside property in Georgia and finds himself reliving a long buried but not forgotten past. With the look of a made-for-tv flick and a somewhat obvious screenplay, "Summer's End", an earnest drama built around the Jones character's relationship with a young boy, serves as a reminder that racial prejudice in American lives on. A good watch for all.


"Mulberry Street" is basically just another forgettable and mediocre creature-feature flick, but I'm rewarding it with at least two extra points because director Jim Mickle and his enthusiast cast & crew clearly went through several harsh ordeals before they could finish their ambitious project. Mickle came to introduce his film at the Belgian Horror & Fantasy Festival and explained how they had to shoot essential footage in the middle of the crowded streets of Manhattan without any official permission to film there, and how all the actors in this film are friends or in some way related to the director, so none of them received any payments. Bearing all this in mind, plus the fact that "Mulberry Street" actually shows the courage and ambition to be a different and largely atmosphere-driven new horror film, I'd say it at least deserves the respect and appreciation of avid horror fanatics and amateur filmmakers all over the world. And the film itself really isn't that bad, neither. A handful of likable characters, all recently evicted tenants of a ramshackle apartment building in Mulberry Str; Manhattan, join together in order to survive a deadly virus that broke out in the city overnight. As a result of constant urban decay, pollution and unbearable heat, the sewer rats of Manhattan are quickly spreading a horrible disease that causes its victims to mutate into a ravenous and bloodthirsty rat-creatures. Once bitten, people rapidly turn into a zombies with the appearance and eating habits of rats, and they only look at their former friends and neighbors as rich sources of food. Clutch, a retired boxer, nervously awaits the homecoming of his soldier daughter, but first he has to protect the other tenants as the rat-zombies are quickly infesting the entire neighborhood. The engaging depiction of the inhabitants of 51, Mulberry Street unquestionably is the biggest advantage of this film. The characters admirably aren't empty-headed junkies or filthy scum, but a close community of hard working and respectable people that are prepared to sacrifice themselves in order to save the others. This is honestly the only film I remember portraying the typical New Yorkers as unsung heroes. Even though the script reveals very few details regarding the lethal rat-virus, the chaotic situation in downtown Manhattan is eerily plausible and the overall atmosphere of "Mulberry Street" is tremendously menacing. Jim Mickle and writer/lead star Nick Damici simultaneously grab the opportunity to process a whole cargo-load of social and political criticism into the screenplay, particularly emphasizing the the war in Iraq and the problematic housing accommodation in big cities. Despite of budgetary restrictions, "Mulberry Street" also features a satisfying amount of blood and gruesome images. The make-up effects on the victims of the rat-virus are quite nasty and the zombie-attacks are uncompromising. Unfortunately the pacing slows down a bit during the second half of the film and the dialogs begin to sound repetitive. But by then, personally, I was already too impressed to allow the minor & understandable flaws to spoil my viewing experience. I really liked this film, as it has real characters and displays a righteously unhappy world-perspective. I doubt "Mulberry Street" will become a film that is easily available, so if you have the opportunity to watch it some time, do not hesitate.


Some of the other reviews adequately cover the actual synopsis - I just wanted to comment on the way that Jim Mickle and his team (especially the actors and camera crew) seem to have pulled a rather good rabbit out of a low budget hat.

Using the camera well with a lot of close ups,speeding things up when appropriate to cover for lower budget make-up effects - which I thought were pretty good anyway, creating characters that you actually care about (loved the 2 old guys), and some really nice and clever ideas, like the photo of the 3 main characters held by the army girl, fading over to a different picture from the same film, owned by her father, was very nice. The characters are not idiots, and what a pleasure it was to see people react to danger in a way that you would like to think you would too - instead of the usual imbeciles.

I'd heard that they had to film the outdoor New York scenes on the hoof without permission, but the way it was done, I never really noticed, as I was too drawn up in the story. (I'm in Scotland, so I wouldn't be aware of any technical errors in the locations).

Well done people, a really enjoyable experience. What a contrast to the last film I saw (My Wife and My Dead Wife (1/10)), thanks guys for restoring my faith that there are some film-makers (and indeed talented actors) with intelligence and creativity who can use low budget challenges in a positive manner.


This is a low budget movie. Now there are low-budget and low-budget. This is very well made out of "only" 60K (apparently) USD. If you can stand the idea of people turning into murderous rat-beings, then you would probably like this flick. It has a quite realistic feel to it, and the fact that everything is shot using a hand camera makes it quite documentary in style. The fact that a large part of the film follows the tenants of a NY building surrounded by these "rat-beings" makes it also quite claustrophobic. Good acting as well, all around - where the actors really build a relationship to each other and the audience.

A very well used 60K and if you like horror movies, the chance is that you'll not want to miss this one.


Mulberry Street was the next stop on my ride through Horrorfest. This is not only the entry that I've been most looking forward to, but the movie that made me want to go to any of the Horrorfest movies at all. And I'm happy to say that it fully lived up to my expectations.

Before I begin the review, I will be hyping this movie. In short and up front, I loved it and it scared me. If you don't think it will scare you from what you may have read about it until now, then see it on my words. Or read the whole review, which will (once again) hype it up, and hopefully you'll still enjoy it as much as I did. Moving along...

The movie takes place in Manhattan, and people are being attacked by rats. First small incidents here and there take place, then those who have been bitten begin to degenerate into a rat-like form (It's a little mix of 28 Days Later, Dawn of the Dead, and... well, Rat Creatures.) 6 tenants of an old apartment complex that has been marked for demolition (as part of an urban renewal program) try to make it through the onslaught of rat people that now prowl the streets, walls, and every ware in between. I know, sounds like a cross between a B-Movie, Willard, and a Sci-Fi Channel Original Movie, but it's actually really good.

To begin with, the characters are excellent, for several reasons. They aren't super-hot teens or stereotypes or anything you'd normally find in a horror movie. They're just regular people, the kind you'd find in, well, the more average part of the big city. They are acted like regular people, don't have any outstanding abilities (ones a former boxer, his daughter is coming back from a vet center after fighting in Iraq (a small subplot of the film is her attempting to get to the apartment complex during all the chaos), and that's about it). And finally, these people don't act like morons or anything. They act like you or me would act in situations like that. Plus, the character development is great. You really start to care for these people (especially the two old guys sharing an upstairs apartment. Love those two), and you want them to make it.

The atmosphere is great. Part of the time it's rather claustrophobic, with the tiny apartments crammed with space, or the restaurants and bars that are shoved into spaces that are half the size of regular shops. Downtown New York City buildings, essentially. The lighting is real and not too bright, and helps build tension. The creatures (or mutated people, or whatever you want to call them) look pretty scary, but you never get a really good look at them (I'll chalk that up to the limited budget of this film. Which is another thing, this film had a tiny budget, and that it pulled off so much is pretty amazing). The music is just right, and climaxes at just the right points.

Finally, this film is scary. I mean really scary. I haven't been genuinely freaked about by a film in a ling time (I mean, I love the Saw movies, but I find them interesting rather than scary. And 1408 had me shaking, but nothing heavy. Hell, August Underground and Cannibal Holocaust were just learning experiments, nothing more). It had some jump scares, but it kept getting freaky even after the jump. It stuck with you, and your were nervous when nothing was happening. It's good stuff when a movie pulls that off. I really haven't been this freaked out by a movie since The Shining (albeit I only first saw The Shining only a couple years ago, but still...)

Not to say there weren't some parts that could've been better. The ending (literally, the last minutes) was a bit open-ended, and not satisfying enough. The quality of the film could have been better, as it seemed pretty grainy at parts (I'm not sure how this film was shot, and I'm sure it once again had to do with budget limitations or the like). And... well, I can't really think of anything else. I've heard some negative remarks about the camera-work (in the moments of action and heavy movement, it goes to a more hand-held, shaky variety. Kinda stays this way throughout the second half of the movie, really), but I don't think it was nearly as bad as people say. It's a little jarring and annoying the first time it's used, but you get used to it. and soon you don't even notice the difference.

So, in conclusion, I love this film. It was about as good as low-budget horror films can get. Not only do I believe that this is the best film of Horrorfest (I've only seen Unearthed and Tooth and Nail so far, but the others have some big shoes to fill), I believe that it's one of the best horror movies I've seen in a few years. Being on the limited run that it is, it won't get the wide audience that it deserves, but if you get a chance to watch it, watch it. You will enjoy it, and it will scare you.


I'm not one for loving cheesy films a whole lot. Sure I can dig Troll 2 for it's insane cheese, or even Blood Freak and it's Turkey Murderer. I guess I'm a fan of the genre, but I can tell you I won't be paying more than 5 bucks for any of them. So whenever I hear of a movie like Mulberry Street, I tend to just shrug and see what good can come out of it. Mulberry Street is a rare breed, it takes a corny premise...Rats infecting people to become killer Rat People, but the movie works, surprisingly well. I'm not gonna get into specifics, because this movie especially, is one you where you shouldn't pay attention to details. If you let it fly, Mulberry Street brings you on a consistently entertaining ride. And with this being a low-budget film, movies of this caliber should only be applauded. If you're looking for a apocalyptic/zombie/vampire/mutant flick, look no further, Mulberry Street is easily good enough to satisfy your Rat Bastard needs.


This is a story idea that could've gone very wrong. I was pleasantly surprised by how well this film was done.

It was very Indie-looking from the beginning, with gritty film stock and no-name actors, but after worrying for the first few minutes that this could mean "cheesy", I realized that the film felt authentic instead. I was made to feel a part of the community of Mulberry Street, so when things start to go wrong, I felt as anxious as the characters.

I like films that make me forget that I am watching a film. I like it when I get lost in the world I am watching, no matter how fantastical the situation may be. The writers / director kept a story very grounded in "reality", that could've been silly or unbelievable. They didn't over-explain or show too much of the horror / gore of it all. I think the best horror stories are the ones where the audience feels as though they are secretly peeping into other peoples' worlds. We get to sit in our comfy chairs and watch their safe little lives fall apart in a horrific and disturbing way. This film pushes it just far enough without breaking that line where "suspension of disbelief" becomes "that would NEVER happen".

If you like all things horror, old school style, I think you will like this film. It is clearly made by people who love the genre and care a great deal for the underground art of move-making. I hope to see more from these writers and director. They have a new fan.


This film caught me by surprise. It is rare indeed to find well written characters in films today and much less so in horror films. These characters were incredibly well written and it is their relationships that bring so much power to the film.

The film brings the grittiness and fear that made the original Night of the Living Dead a classic and added the intensity and ferocity of 28 Days Later. Now add well written characters to that recipe! The movie takes its time to unfold as you get to know the characters and slowly learn about the mayhem that is beginning to unfold in New York. The film aptly captures that gradual realization as the news stories begin to unfold in a crisis. It takes you from the who cares, the what the heck, and the OMG! As the city falls apart.

Confession: I have never cried in a horror movie before and by the end I was bawling. And I wasn't the only one in the theater. When the lights came on, people were looking around and caught the others who were moved by it all.

Reading about the other film written by Michael Damici (Fast Horses) there seems to be a theme of the unspoken love between men in his work. If that freaks you out, then you won't like the movie much. Otherwise, catch this film!


Afterdark Horrorfest are the best B-Movies I've ever seen.It has it's crappers(The Hamiltons, Nightmare Man, Crazy Eights), but they make up for it with wonderful movies like Mulberry Street.This is yet another great movie in the Afterdark Horrorfest 8 Films To Die For series, and I would say probably my 4th favorite out of all of them.It was really well executed for a B-Movie, as are all the Afterdark Horrorfest films, and I couldn't help but be so sucked into the story plot and suspense.It may have been just a little retarded, funny even, and they left some things unexplained, but hey, I was expecting less, and got a lot.Overall, MOST of all the movies in the Afterdark Horrorfest films are great and VERY underrated, and I hope for these movies to be more recognized than what they already are, which is not recognized hardly at all, because they are some really spectacular movies, and I'm looking forward to the next set that comes out.


New York City has a rat problem it seems. The little furry pests are crawling all over the place and you better hope they don't bite a chunk out of you because, when that happens, you start growing hair out of strange places and want to eat human flesh! "Mulberry Street" is an apocalypse movie which takes "28 Days Later" and filters it through a post 9-11 New York. It begins at a rundown tenement building on the titular street where we are introduced to several of those who live there including Clutch, a retired boxer, a bartender named Kay (living with her teenage son) and Coco who is Clutch's best friend. Meanwhile, Clutch's daughter Casey arrives in New York City after serving in the Middle East and begins making her way home. Unfortunately, there have been several reports of rats biting humans, a nasty virus spreading through the city and people suddenly turning on one another. This results in the subways being shut down and Casey is forced to make her way home on foot. Are all these events connected? You bet!

"Mulberry Street" begins slowly with the horrors kept in the background. A feeling of dread infects the first third of the movie; dark figures shamble around alleyways as the characters walk past, a man sits silently in Kay's bar sweating and acting strangely, rats scurry around nearby gutters and televisions begin reporting strange events. I actually quite liked this - it was nice to watch a horror movie where the characters were developed, allowing the audience to get to know them before the city fell into Hell. There aren't any stereotypes either which makes a nice change. The characters in this movie probably do exist somewhere in Manhattan; enabling you to care about whether they'll survive or not.

The movie was made for a very low budget and features a lot of shaky-cam, which is obviously used to hide some of the effects (although they were, in my opinion, pretty good - the rat people are appropriately gruesome and deformed) but it doesn't hurt the film. In addition, the visuals have a dark and very dirty look to them. For a movie which revolves around rats, this adds to the atmosphere and makes it appear more gritty and realistic.

I really enjoyed "Mulberry Street". The acting was great all round, the storyline was interesting and it was nice to see a movie of this type that didn't use zombies for once! The squealing noises made by the rat people as they flood through corridors and streets was suitably disturbing. If you enjoyed "28 Days Later" or are a horror fan in general then you should certainly check out "Mulberry Street". Jim Mickel is definitely a director to watch out for in the future. If he can produce something this entertaining with such a low budget, who knows what he'll be capable of with more money?


Who ever said that New Yorkers were rude or not funny, I sure as hell didn't. I want to say a few things about this movie I loved it. I absolutely loved this movie, it was one of the best apocalyptic movies since 28 Week Later, and furthermore, it was more of an isolated incident than a major epidemic. I was beautifully done, the acting was beyond superb, very tense and horrorfic and funny. This movie had the look and feel of something much more mesmerizing and sedated than just your typical outbreak story, it had family values, emotional battles, REAL looking people rather than beautiful young teens and some very sad and unexpected moments. This movie would probably be the best Horror Fest movie I have seen. It brought me back to the day when apocalypse movies were abundant and new. Even for a very restricted budget, as the film displays, this film was dynamite.

First off, the acting was equivalent to 28 Days and Weeks, the remake of Dawn of the Dead and Land of the Dead. Unlike its predecessors, Mulberry Street is an isolated outbreak strictly in the Manhattan and New York region. This outbreak was not cause by a virus, or at least confirmed that it was virus, or a zombie outbreak or even a gas, it was simply caused by underground sewer rats. When bitten, people turn into "rat people." They become deformed, grow long front teeth and pointy ears and eat other people. What made this movie scary was that they weren't zombies or enraged people but mutations of the human body running around and viciously attack people. They jump out of nowhere, they puke blood, eat other people and violent manner that all of this is happening. It's scary, when you see these people faces and the way they act before they turn into rat people. Something about this particular apocalypse movie was different from Days, Weeks, Dawn of Dead or Land of Dead, it was pretty scary and very well done for a low budgeter. One of the scarier moments was when the building super, who got bit, started crawling up the inside of the walls and ceilings.

The characters in this movie were not you typical drunken, sex-craved, beautiful teens, but were you typical lower class, medium income New York tenants. That's what I also loved about this movie was it had real people who acted like real people in such situations and with outstanding performances by Nick Damici, Kim Blair, Ron Brice, Antone Pagan and Lou Torres. Another great element that drives this movie is the emotional feel and the chemistry between those characters. A father, along with his flamboyant friend wait for the arrival of his long seen daughter, and just the respect and love they had for each was powerful. The relationship that one of the older tenants has with a bedridden old man who breaths through an oxygen tank is hysterically powerful and the love between that father and a barmaid, whom he has trouble confronting. All of these aspects and more made this film emotionally driven and powerful. There are points were it's almost sad and a good amount of laughs.

Another great and unexpected aspect of this film was the humor. The old guy with the breather is hysterical even the most hectic and horrible situations. There was plenty of humor in this film that lightened the mood including the bar's owner who found a great way to defend himself from the rat people, with none other than a frying pan. Great humor portrayed by one of the more flamboyant tenants who also found a great way for defense involving a lighter and an aerosol can. The humor was abundant and I enjoyed this ingredient.

The visual of the film was hand-held, like a camcorder and when the action heightened it got shakier and more intense. Not quite as motion sickness as Bourne Ultimatum was, but the camera did try to stabilize and keep a hand-held style going. A great attempt and it worked. I enjoyed the camera-work the natural lighting inside the dimly lit apartment and the darkened red lights of the outside streets.

Overall, this movie had great scares, some very emotional moments, sad moments, hysterical moments and a great horror film that would fit greatly in the apocalypse line up of films. If you haven't seen this, I would strongly recommend it and give it a chance. A lot of people found it stupid but it was very well done, unlike some b-movies were the director doesn't push his actors and actresses to go above and beyond. For this movie, there is no need for Arsenic, just a chance.


The tenants of a Manhattan apartment complex have many things to worry about. Their apartments are old, falling apart, and now the city has allowed a developer to evict them in order to build a new skyscraper. These are hard working people who have little going for them except for the fact that they have some honor in who they are and how they try to live their lives.

Clutch (Nick Damaci) is a former boxer who is the "big brother" of the building in that he tries to look after everyone's needs. Tenants such as Kay (Bo Corre) and her son Otto (Javier Picayo), Peter (Antone Pagan) and Charlie (Larry Fleishchman), in one way or another benefit from having Clutch around. When Clutch learns that his daughter Casey (Kim Blair) is returning home after a tour of duty where she was wounded, there is another dimension added to Clutch's responsibilities. Though we never learn exactly what happened to Casey and how that affected her relationship with her father, it is apparent that the relationship is strained even though there is still love between the two.

On the day that Casey returns home a series of news reports are broadcast around the city. Reports of rat attacks where people who are bit develop a strange sickness soon begin to spread along with rumors that the city is finding itself unable to deal with the threat. Clutch, however, is more concerned about trying to create a welcome home party for his daughter while Kay in particular seems more concerned about trying to capture the attention of Clutch himself. Other tenants and those not affected by such reports pay little attention to the growing crisis.

When night falls the terror begins. For reasons unknown (and Mulberry St. never attempts to explain), those who were bit begin to turn into carnivorous beasts themselves who resemble rats. The whole city is soon under siege as the infected spread the disease or destroy those who fall into their grasp. Clutch, Kay, and Casey witness the horror that ensues when bodies are ripped apart and fed upon as once normal humans turn into vermin themselves scavenging for scraps of meat. Others such as Charlie experience the nightmare of being trapped in their own home with nowhere to escape.

Mulberry St. isn't really a zombie movie so comparing it to Dawn of the Dead or another movie of the same theme wouldn't be fair. However, it does hold its own even if there are some gaps in the plot that could have been filled in. For example, what happened between Clutch and Casey? What happened to Otto once he was captured by soldiers sent to clear the building out? The questions are never answered but in the end they don't affect the outcome of the movie.

One of the better "8 Films to Die For", Mulberry St. is an example that low budget horror and suspense can work.


Clutch is a former boxer who lives in an apartment on Mulberry Street in New York.With his friend Coco they eagerly await for Clutch's daughter Casey to return home from Iraq.We also meet the other tenants in this dilapidated complex Charlie and Frank who are a couple of old timers and a bartender Kay and her teenage son.Unfortunately their place of living becomes hell,when New Yorkers mysteriously turn into bloodthirsty rat creatures."Mulberry Street" is a pleasant surprise.It plays like the cross between "28 Days Later","Feast" and Spanish horror hit "Rec".Mickle uses quick shots,music video style editing and plenty of gore to make a surprisingly memorable and decent horror film.The action is fast paced and the creatures look creepy.8 out of 10.


Taking place mostly at a small apartment building in downtown Manhattan whose inhabitants must deal with murderous rats, as well as the zombie rat-people that those they bite devolve into. This low-budget really surprised me (it being a part of the After Dark '8 films to die for' didn't really provoke confidence as most of those films I've seen previous to this one were awful) However this film kept my interests throughout & a testament that supremely low-budget films can be good if the film maker has an eye on the ball, plans it all out ahead of time and has a real passion for cinema. Well acted, but characterization is a tad sparse, however that's all right as the film is tense and tightly made so it's not a huge problem. Nick Damici does a great job both behind and in front of the camera.

My Grade: B


This is my first review on IMDb as a side-note.

Mulberry Street circles around a somewhat worn out theme regarding people deprived of the basics. Fair as some may say, several other directors have approached the matter increasingly (and) specially since the acclaimed '28 days later' by Danny Boyle and Zack Snyder's remake of 'Dawn of the dead'.

It may be a bit inappropriate to place all of them on the same step however, there are common aspects which i consider important - the scripting, final plot and directing. Jim Mickle's approach strikes me as a very mature use of directing skills and resources to convey a heavy and raw presentation of gruesomeness.

On a final note, there is a conscious developing social reality theme throughout the movie. It helps to build the story line and consolidate the unravelling of the characters, each of which short of being shallow or even forsaken by Mickle and Nick Damici.

A definite must for those who appreciate more mature approaches to thriller and horror sub-genres.


A day/night in the lives of an eclectic group of characters, who live in a crumbling apartment complex soon to be possibly condemned on Mulberry St, are focused on as a societal collapse is imminent, threatening NYC due to a crisis of infection from wide-spread rodent bites. Manhattan soon is overrun by infected citizens who are slowly transforming into human rodents! Once the citizens are completely infected by the rat virus, they attack anyone in their path, longing to feast on their flesh.

Characters like Clutch(Nick Damici), a former boxer seen often jogging on the streets(also the one his fellow neighbors in the Mulberry St apartment put their trust in), his daughter Casey(Kim Blair), recently returning from a tour in Iraq carrying a facial scar she's self-conscious about, Kay(Bo Corre), a Polish-American single mother who works at a local pub nearby, are just a few the film isolates as the outbreak takes shape.

While the influences of Night of the Living Dead(characters trapped in an apartment complex as infected humans await them outside)and 28 Days Later..(the "giddy-up" rat-humans, shaky cam style and running humans trying to escape as the predators pursue them)are undeniable, I still found "Mulberry St." a pulse-pounding thrill-ride. The rat-humans are shot quite the same way as the "rage-infected" human zombies of 28 Days Later(& 28 Weeks Later)..the camera doesn't really completely eyeball them, because they move so fast, in such a frenzied state like wild animals starving for supper, that we don't exactly identify with them. And, once they are on the rampage, our regular working-class heroes are often on the move, or trying to find shelter or weapons to protect themselves. Appropriately grim with a rather downbeat climax as governmental biological teams finally arrive after night closes, with many of the cast members either dead or turned. The shaky-cam will undoubtedly turn some people off(..or turn their stomachs), but it gives the film an immediacy that I felt keeps the viewer on edge. I can see why director Mickle opted for the shaky-cam technique..it does give the film a documentarian closeness with those characters focused on. There are shots within the apartment which give "Mulberry St" a claustrophobic dread while outside, there's too much space(..and often a deadening silence on desolate streets with rat-humans eating silently, always listening for sounds of fresh meat) as bodies lie all over the place. Larry Fessenden has a funny cameo as a running civilian who locks the gate on a fellow citizen, later suffering the consequences when he himself needs help. I think "Mulberry St" is a rare film in that the characters, and the actors portraying them, are multi-dimensional.


One of last years "8 Films to Die For" is a New York Lensed tale of a zombie/28 Days Later tale of biological horror set in New Yorks Lower East Side as some disease spread by rat bite and later people bite turns people in hungry beasts.

Clearly filmed in New York in real locations this film feels like New York. It lives and breaths the locations it was filmed in ways that big budgeted films never do. The street scenes were apparently filmed on the sly and the result is a real sense of the City where things are really happening. This is New York for real.

The film starts off with a great deal of character building (hey real characters in a horror movie-what a novel idea) that perhaps goes on a bit too long. Still it sets everyone up so nicely that when then infected begin to assault the people we've come to know we are more than horrified, we are saddened by their fates. I don't know when it was the last time I was choked up at a horror film. To be honest there maybe a bit too much of these building scenes since the film seems to slow down too much around the half hour mark. Things turn up a few notches once the infection spreads and Manhattan is sealed off. How will our heroes survive? Once things begin to heat up the film becomes a series of sequences that play very real as the infected begin to beat and bash their way into the buildings and apartments. There are many stunning images that seem to have raised the bar of films like this for their stark sense of realism and in your face nature. Most of the second half of the film is dynamite as everyone tries to figure out whats going on and how to survive.

I really liked this film a great deal. Granted its not perfect, the film does take too long to start up and its sometimes too close to the action, as if the cinematographer didn't realize how some of the up close fast moving images would look on a big screen, but it certainly is worth seeing.

6.5 to 7 out of 10.


Considering this movie is done with a no name cast the acting is top notch. The actors should be given awards for the quality of acting, I did not see any of the stereotypical women panics or war heroes running around with shotguns spouting clichés. They picked some quality for the movie and I really hope to see the cast go on to bigger and better things. Considering this movie was low budget the effects, make up and scenes are very well done. The gritty city, the typical way people tune out the warning signs because every day you hear a siren. Where this movie fails is some plot holes and reality checks. While they never develop a background into 3 of the main characters, there are heavy indicators that they share history. It leaves you with the feeling they should have filled us in on the connection. In order to view a horror movie we must be able to turn off that reality check in our mind telling us that this cannot happen. But this movie fails to give the common viewer an explanation for the spread of the infestation. Not a great horror movie but definitely a good one to watch.


I think this movie should make big time Hollywood film-makers a bit nervous. (I would go on about this point but enough reviewers have already talked about what it had taken to get this film made and i don't want to sound redundant). I wouldn't say its any better than say 28 days (or even weeks) later, but its also certainly not worse. There were in fact moments of this film that I got really into and I would say outdid some of the other zombie films. For example in movies like 30 days of night (which basically is more of a zombie type movie than vampire)there is the long tedious scenes where they are watching for the vampires through a crowded basements window, or in 28 days later sniping zombies from a rooftop. This movie just flat out didn't have time to do anything like that (that is once it really got going), it moved very fluently. Another example would be that at no part in this movie did the characters ever use a gun against the zombies. The dialog was great, the characterization was awesome, and you were really rooting for their safety.

Now for the few downfalls. There is no twists or turns in this movie (not that it has to have one to make the film good). It was for the most part predictable in the general storyline sense. I got annoyed with how often there was a newscast to announce what was going on. Even tho it was a good refreshing zombie movie, there still wasn't anything incredibly new.


I saw this last year at the Tribeca Film Festival and I think it's a truly remarkable achievement. (According to the filmmakers, all the interiors were more or less shot on the same set that they kept reconfiguring to make it look like different locations.) This is an extremely entertaining, scary, witty movie that really gets under your skin and somehow manages to convey the atmosphere of a rapidly-vanishing gritty Manhattan as well as life during the Iraq war. I've been waiting with great anticipation for this to come out on DVD, and now that it is, I'm hugely looking forward to seeing it again, and to making it my number one choice for a "party movie."


Okay I realize my title is silly, but this really is a terrific flick. Excellent characterization, fabulous script, good build-up of suspense, and really cool/creepy/gross creatures. Since the filmmakers had very little budget, they wisely don't show the creatures in much detail. This makes them all the more horrible and unnerving.

Now, I was prepared to like this movie. I LOVE killer rat movies in all their forms, from the really wonderful Willard remake to the godawful but hysterical "Rodentz." But this went WAY beyond a killer rat movie, a zombie movie, a disaster movie, or even a horror movie. It's just flat a GOOD FILM.

Go see it while you can!


Nicely done low budget horror movie. Shot in Manhattan and definitely creates a genuine NYC feel through long shots, local sites and color. Acting is surprisingly good and not cringe producing at all. Gives good introduction to all the characters and actually produces some empathy. Interesting subplot of daughter returning from Iraq and leads subtle romance with neighbor. The old men upstairs are a hoot.

Gore-and-horror-wise I found it satisfying and gripping to watch. A nice 28-Days-Later vibe done on a much smaller scale. The creatures were cool. Plenty of flesh-eating and blood and guts.

Low expectations can produce a very pleasant viewing experience. This movie did. Congrats to all involved and I look forward to future projects by these folks.


I saw this film last night at the Fantasia film festival and I really enjoyed it!! It's well written, well directed and the relatively unknown actors are doing a fine job! In fact my only complaint, but it's a major one in my book, reside in the image quality of this film. As far as I understand, this film was shot on mini-DV and, unfortunately, it shows. There's a serious lack of definition and, most of the time, the image is very noisy! Hopefully it will look better whenever it comes out on DVD but, on a giant screen in a theater, it doesn't come out very good. Take in note that I work in the industry as a quality control technician, so my opinion on this matter could be a little strong compare to most people. As a matter of fact a friend of mine was present during this showing and told me that she didn't even notice that it was shot on mini-DV so... :) Beside that factor I really enjoyed this film and I strongly recommend it!


I saw this at Tribeca Film Festival and had a great time. This is a great example of low budget film-making at its best. The first half hour establishes the protagonists, which are all a nice mix of "real" New Yorkers who are under threat of eviction. This is due to the major gentrification of the city, which is slowly causing it to lose its soul. Film deftly conveys how NYC is becoming a city just for the wealthy. A rat plague begins turning people into zombies. The film drags a bit and then picks up steam in the final half hour. There's one shot in the front seat of a car involving the reunion of two characters and the elimination of another. It's one of the best scenes I've see in a horror film in quite sometime. Filmmakers should be commended for not selling out on the bleakness of this apocalyptic post 9/11 gem.


I've never watched a Zombie movie I didn't enjoy to some degree. That all changed last week when I watched Mulberry Street. I kept wanting to turn it off because the whole "Rat Zombie" thing was really stupid, but I kept watching, not wanting to admit to myself I just wasted 15 bucks. Bad acting and a painfully slow and sloppy plot ruined it. I think they tried way too hard to make the film artsy and give it an indy vibe, but instead it came across as very amateurish. The idea of a disease being spread via rats is a nice, historically accurate addition to the zombie sub genre, but the victims turning into rats? How stupid is that? I did have a few ideas for a sequel, though: the disease is spread by kittens and victims transform into big, cuddly kittens that like to play and frolic instead of eating human flesh. Or maybe the disease is spread via the Olsen twins and everyone becomes anorexic cocaine addicts that still eat human flesh but then promptly vomit it back up so their re-animated asses don't get fat.


I'm loving this movie from the opening scene of rats under night vision camera crawling along the pipe-works of a building. Cut to the scene of our hero fishing off the pier and jogging thru his hood in his sleeveless hoodie. Enter his apartment building filled with the usual broken-down stereotypical inner-city schleps. Where "howyadoing" means hello, and "Leave me alone!" passes for good-bye. Every actor plays their roll with a meaty flavor that I'm sure the on-coming zombie hordes will find very satisfying. Yes this movie lets you know the characters lets you see what's inside of them before the zombies rip it out. Secretly several residents in the apartment have been attacked. But you'd never know they turned, with their unhealthy pallor and shuffling around aimlessly and disheveled in their every-day life.

Or sleeveless hero and the rest of the denizens are waiting for his daughter to return from Iraq. The closer she gets the more you here about these strange attack on the sub-way. Suddenly a "YUPPIE" douche hits on a seemingly drunken skank at the corner bar. He drags her into the kitchen for some quick-sex and comes running out bleeding and screaming. She comes chasing after so do several other turned citizens. UH-oh the gig is up; whatever was attacking those people on the sub-ways is here! Run! Run! Zombies! Save yerself! Save yerself!!


Check out the other reviews, folks. Overwhelmingly positive, with the occasional know-it-all, "no-that-don't-impress-me-much" imbeciles here and there.

This movie was a GREAT low-budget flick. Dirty, grimy feel, unforgiving, bleak urban landscape and an ending which follows through 100% without any retarded "surprises." I thought the first quarter of the film was moving a bit slow but, boy, did it ever make up for it.

Despite this being a horror movie, it's not all about the gore. The virus is in fact a metaphor for greed, as it arrives at the same time as a development corporation is evicting lower income Bronx tenants via "emiment domain." The only thing that bothered me is the female character--the daughter of the protagonist--who is returning home after having, presumably, served in Iraq, complete with a scar on the left side of her face. I suppose this is to indicate that "women are capable of being soldiers too" and, not only that, but, "Look! she even got a war injury! What a hero!" Am I suppose to get all misty-eyed and pretend I'm so happy that "women today have the chance to become veterans, too"? Give me a break. It reminds me of that other mush-brained feminazi reading of the recent remake (an abomination like all remakes have been in the past ten years) of 'The Hitcher.' Keep your lefty, liberal propaganda to yourselves for once, people. Geez.

Anyway, this is a minor quip. The female "soldier's" character was very understated in its "feminist" intend.

Anyone who enjoys good horror should watch this film. These folks deserve all the praise they get.


I saw this film a few weeks ago on the SciFi Channel, and must say it was a very welcome change of pace. It was an excellent movie, much better than anything that came before or after it. Naturally, SciFi isn't showing it again anytime soon (why show quality independent cinema when you can run 100 promos promising to show us the identity of the Final Cylon in its place, after all?) Filmmaker Jim Mickle goes back to the traditional cinematographer's bag of tools - ambiance, camera angles, cut-aways... he delivers a remarkably good movie from a low-budget production without the self-indulging self-parody of "Cloverfield" or its predecessor, "Blair Witch Project." The cast put in a good job - some surprisingly good acting, the surroundings are very well shot, and the script is taut, suspenseful, lacking in clichés or empty space. Mulberry Street's weakness is perhaps the writing of the voice-overs from the television news in the background... they're just a little hokey, maybe a tiny bit indebted to Ed Wood.

Overall, this is a corker of a movie. It's a thriller, full of little character studies when it's not forcing you off the edge of your seat. Along with Shane Carruth's "Primer," Jim Mickle's "Mulberry Street" is proof that independent cinema is alive and well in the United States, despite all that is done to force it into an early grave. When these gentlemen get their hands on the cinematic big guns, they will do greater things. Count on it.


This movie had a good premise, and at a point in the flick I thought the tables were turning and I was really going to enjoy this one. However, it did not turn the corner for me and in the end was generally a movie I did not care for, but was one or two steps away from being a movie I could classify as okay. One of the problems is the setup in this film. It takes a long time for this movie to really get going, though part of this may stem from the fact I have been spoiled by other horror movies like "The Mist" and "Feast" that only take a short time before all hell breaks loose. The story has this people living in a building that is about to be taken over by some corporation...what this has to do with anything is beyond me as this is never touched on after the city goes crazy. A man awaits his daughter's return home after a tour of duty in Irag I am guessing. You also meet these two old guys and another guy who is a friend of the father and returning girl. You also meet a mother and her son. However, as normally as their day is progressing all is not well. During newscasts and other scenes you see that rats are becoming a bit more aggressive and there victims are becoming a bit messed up too. This goes on for a bit then the city is thrown into chaos as the victims of the rats start dining on everyone not infected. At this point the movie seemed to be getting better, however the camera work is so jumpy that I had a hard time following the picture. There was also a bit more street action than I was thinking there would be as I was thinking it would be the tenants holding up in their apartment complex more. Sort of a Night of the Living Dead scenario. So it came close to being okay for me, but missed the mark and the ending was quite strange too.


This movie ended up being a lot more than I expected. I thought it was going to be another one of those zombie movies with three snobby girls and the one good looking jock, but it's far from that. One of the main things that puts this movie ahead in my opinion is that to me it's more about the people and the government's reaction more than anything else. The characters are normal people, living normal lives, and you really begin to like all of them. It's filmed in such a way that you start to feel like you're right in the midst of the terror, right next to them, and you can't take your eyes away. And the 'creatures.' They're terrifying. The idea of rat creatures at first doesn't seem that scary, but they do SO well with these. I'll never have a pet rat again, that's for sure. All in all, this is one of the best horror films I have ever seen. It is absolutely terrifying, and it really makes you think.


I'm not gonna spoil it for you guys in case you wanna see it but this movie is not even a low budget movie, its like some kid used his phone camera to shoot the whole movie. The actors are really bad and so is the CGI. The directing is quit poor as well as it tends to jump from one part to another leaving the audience unsure about what is happening while the funny exaggerations of actor's powers are quit overwhelming. an example is that apparently you can smash the brain of the zombies or so called 'RAT people by normal punching. I saw this movie in hopes of having a great Zombie memory but I was very disappointed as there was not storyline just a concept that was repeating it self while the rest of the movie acting, directing, CGI and etc were very poor.

I would recommend spending your time on some other movies such as Dawn of the dead 2004 remake or something like that rather than this movie.


Hong Kong film maker Ringo Lam has done many extraordinary films during his career. They include the extremely bleak and violent "School on Fire" (1988), "City on Fire" (1987), the incredible "Full Contact" (1992) and "Prison on Fire 1 and 2" from 1987 and 1991. "Prison on Fire" stars the then raising star Chow Yun-Fat as Ching, a positive and friendly inmate in a prison in which Lo Ka Yiu, played by Tony Leung Ka Fai is sentenced. They are both judged for a manslaughter and now they'll have to survive the violence and triad corruption inside the stone. What follows is a very intense 100 minutes and a film that won't be remembered among the least effective works of the great Lam.

The film is pretty close to "School on Fire" even though it is not as fierce and pessimistic as that film which was made one year later. "Prison" is pretty powerful and believable depiction of the state of prisons in Hong Kong and how much power the triad members have there. Where "School" depicts the horrible violence among school children and triads, "Prison" depicts violence and terror among convicts and triads, and how it all may end as horribly as in "School". But this time Ringo leaves a hope for a better tomorrow (as Chow's character even mentions at one point) and so the film is much more optimistic than the harrowing "School". Still the finale in the prison is very violent and shocking so the ride through the prison won't be an easy or pleasant one at all, and why would Ringo do such a pointless and light film that wouldn't have its message and anything to say in the first place? That is exactly why his films are much more than just action and gun battles.

The cast is very good in "Prison" and it includes Roy Cheung as the violent warden "Scarface" and Roy can also be found as a triad leader in "School" and a cop in "City on Fire." The characters, especially Chow's and Tony's, seem to develop little too fast as their dramatic decisions and actions are not as carefully explained and introduced as possible. I mean the scenes like "the suicide attempt" and the angry and almost comical face expression Chow gives to "Scarface" at one point; they show that these men really can act (and they can) but these kind of actions should be little more restrained and explained, but still Chow's character is here much better than in "City on Fire" which suffers a lot from the weak character of Chow's.

The ending in "Prison" is near the rage and mayhem of "School" and I felt really bad during the finale, so once again Ringo has shown his unique talent and power of his cinema. Chow turns into the kind of wild animal that is hiding inside every one of us, and that just should be kept there forever no matter what the situation is. That kind of finale is very powerful and leaves the audience pretty stunned and often in pure disgust, as in the case of "School". Overall the violence in "Prison" is very strong and hurts almost as much the viewer as it does the characters and that is the only way to depict this horrible thing honestly and in a way that something important can be achieved and told by the film. I'm afraid the present day Hollywood wouldn't dare to do films like this, but fortunately there are alternatives and people who want to make films not just because of money.

"Prison" is composed by Lowell Lo, who has also made the soundtrack for films like "Naked Killer" (Clarence Fok, 1992), "The Killer" (John Woo, 1989) and Ringo's "School on Fire" but the usage of music is never as near as strong in "Prison" as it is in "School" and that is also among the elements that make "School" such a strong experience. "Prison" has also some very atmospheric photography inside the prison and there are some nice neon lights and almost mysterious lights coming through the windows at some points. There's also some very bright photography in the interiors and that creates almost a dream like feel to the film, and also depicts the state of mind of the inmates and how things vary from pure danger and alarm to peace and quiet inside the prison.

"Prison" is among the reasons why Hong Kong cinema is so powerful and unique and it is also among the reasons that make Ringo among the most talented directors in the field. His real masterpiece was still to come (Full Contact) but still "Prison" is among the most noteworthy achievements of his. 8/10


This is not a well-crafted documentary, and no doubt film students will pick it to pieces. BUT, it is certainly a compelling and unforgettable piece of cinema, and one that raises many more questions than it answers.

The film is as tasteful as is possible, given its subject matter. Annabel Chong (Grace Quek) is an exceptionally complex human being: highly intelligent yet quite psychologically damaged. Watching the film is like being on amphetamines - the first half is hyper-frenetic and luridly self-congratulatory, but then the "come-down" happens. And when it comes, it hits hard.

I did some follow-up research. Ironically, this documentary gave Annabel Chong the financial rewards that her gang-bang didn't, and she earned enough to buy a house and return to college. She is currently completing a course in web-design/networking. She appears to be earning her living by operating a website that combines her discussions of Windows 2000 installations with subscriber-only pornographic photos of herself and others. Like the film itself, this historical footnote doesn't give any simple answers either.

As I said, this film is flawed in many ways, (I'll let you decide in what ways) but a few weeks later I still find myself thinking about the issues it raised. And on that score, it deserves a high recommendation.

After much deliberation I gave this film a 9/10 - not because of the film's actual quality (which only deserves a 5-6), but because it is a film that deserves to be seen and contemplated.


This is a horrific film, made all the worse because it's all true. Annabel Chong is an intelligent, articulate middle class student from Singapore, where her parents are so proud that she's managed to get to America.

Unfortunately, what she does in America is make porn films - films like "What's a nice girl like you doing in an anal movie?". This film is structured around her record breaking attempt to have sex with 251 men.

And it is exceptionally grim. En Route, we meet the characters who work in the porn industry, see Annabel's friends and realise that she is very, very screwed up.

This is a snapshot of humanity at its lowest. After watching it, all your liberal assumptions are challenged. A grim but essential film.


I watched this simply because I was intrigued by the write up in the TV Guide which mentioned that Annabel Chong is the porn star who was setting a record for having sex with 251 men in 10 hours . Aren't you also intrigued ?

There's two reasons for a prospective audience to watch this . One is that they're equally intrigued as I was and the second reason is that it sounds like really good masturbation fuel . If you're watching for the second reason you'll be bitterly disappointed since there's very little on screen sex but if you're watching for the sensible reason you'll still be as disappointed as the voyeurs . Ms Chong gives a pretentious neo feminist explanation of why she's doing it , something along the lines of " I'm doing this because I'll be striking a blow against chauvanism and by being in control of the situation I'll be showing that it's the men who are sluts " . I don't think Ms Chong has thought through he reasons fully . Either that or she's not a great communicator

What is obvious is that Annabel Chong is certainly a very unhappy individual who probably needs to use sex in order to boost her esteem in much the same way as a person with a drink problem uses alcohol to boost their self esteem . Sex and alcohol like so many things in life are metaphysical false economies for the human soul . Luckily we see towards the end of the movie the self destruction that being a porn star can bring but Ms Chong unlike the audience can't see the woods for the trees


Intensly personal and moving documentary about the life and times of arguably one of the more well known porn stars - Annabel Chong.

The film covers the time during and following her world record of sleeping with 251 men in 10 hours. We see her preparation for the attempt, the attempt itself and the years following where she was afforded great fame but at a huge personal loss.

Annabel is a very intelligent woman; she studied and graduated from USC in 1998 and from her teachers accounts she is a very articulate writer and thinks very analytically. Its only when she tries to verbalise a lot of what she is thinking that we see the pain, the emotional torment that must be facing her every day of her life.

Her voice is one that seems to be on the verge of breaking down into total incomphrensibility - it falters, pauses and staggers along - fuelled a mind that is providing the information but the mouth cannot process it fast enough.

She is a tortured woman; you can see everyone of those 251 men in her eyes every time the conversation moves around to the record breaking feat. She often justifies it by calling it an experiment; one that shows the empowerment of women over men - she was showing that women can be just as agressive sexually as men.

But the price she has paid for it is great. She did not tell her parents for over two years that she was a porn actress. Though not filmed; the after effects of the revelation are shown graphically; her mother on the floor of her room packing Annabels bag, crying and moaning as she removes all trace of her daughter from her life.

There is a lot to this documentary that is worth discovering. Don't get it just for some mindless titalation - there is little of that during its 86 minute running time. What you do get though is a look into the human condition; a condition that craves acceptance amongst peers, a condition that believes it is in control of its own destiny.

A moving lesson for all.

8 out of 10.


Annabel Chong gang-banged her way to the top of the porn industry by having sex with 251 guys in 10 hours. Did she do it to make a feminist statement, for the money, or because she simply enjoyed the act itself? The film explores all the possibilities and more.

This documentary is more about the person behind the act other than the actual act itself. Annabel is quite an interesting character. At times she comes across as highly intelligent, and other times she appears to be highly sensitive, fragile, and self-destructive.

The documentary is presented through a serious of interviews and outtakes, some of which can be pretty disturbing.

The parts in which Annabel demonstrates her techniques for self mutilation, as well as her mother in Singapore discovering what her her daughter has been doing in America for a living are particularly gut-wrenching.

A very intriguing look at a this multi-faceted / multi-dimensional character and woman.

Recommended!


Aside from the fact that this documentary displays little technical skill, it also seems to possess no real artistic or narrative INTENT. This is supposed to be Grace Quek's chance to tell the REAL story of her alter-ego, porn starlet Annabel Chong. Naturally you expect some in-depth analysis of Quek's unconventional trajectory, with adequate psychological insight and complex discussion. However, you get none.

This is an exploitative and disjointed sleazefest - but Quek herself is largely part of the problem. Instead of making sense of her dubious and scandalous career choices, she flounders, displaying faux-confidence and nonchalance at times, emotional instability and fragility at others. Quek is one of those privileged and intelligent people who orchestrate their lives in order to precisely undermine their privilege and intelligence. It is this unrepressed, egocentric, ungrateful display of self-indulgence that makes such people unable to garner sympathy or respect from anybody. Such happens here, and it is rather pointless to have the subject of a documentary be so contemptible.

Quek grew up as the only child of well-meaning, middle-class parents in one of the world's wealthiest nations, where she attended some of the top schools before being granted the means to attend university in the UK. Yet amidst this oasis of privilege and opportunity, she was oh so overwhelmed by her existential lack of purpose and identity that she headed for L.A., where she nosedived into the underworld of drugs and pornography.

Meanwhile, she rationalizes her choices by claiming there is some sort of higher philosophical quest embedded in what is otherwise blatantly self-destructive behavior. Although it is clear Quek has unresolved issues, and most probably longstanding clinical depression, there is a catch: she is, and always has been, in a position to DEAL and SEEK HELP. That she CHOOSES to destruct beyond repair and delude herself about her motives is the real travesty here, and not all the nonsense some people keep pointing out about the porn industry being sleazy and exploitative and devoid of morals.

Most women who get into porn come from working-class, if not downright desolate backgrounds. Their childhoods and adolescenes are best quantified by LACK rather than excess. Many have a history of child abuse, sexual abuse, violence, and early drug and alcohol addiction. That Quek would choose such an exploitative industry as the medium to carry out some of sort of "intellectual exercise" to, in her words, "subvert Western ideals of masculinity" only exposes the fact that her choice had NO SUCH INTENT. Partaking in the infamous "gangbang" was merely indulgence in a high form of self-destruction - hey, with an audience to boot (Quek seems is undeniably a narcissistic sort of masochist). The fact that she doesn't care about never having been paid a cent also compounds this. Name a single porn actress who would work for free!

The sad this is, her intent in making this documentary is one and the same as her intent in doing porn: more self-indulgence, more self-absorption and more self-destruction. I am only sorry that she consented to getting her parents involved in it - watching the scenes of her mom is heart-breaking. Many kids fail their parents, but for a kid to be so ungrateful as to FLAUNT their failure, is just unnecessary.


I think this documentary is very good at showing how destructive the porn industry really can be, Annabel chong is show at times as intelligent as well as naive but the barons of the industry have no condolences to give to any of the young women like chong who lives they destroy whilst making huge sums of money. All I can say is, i'd like five minutes alone in a sound proof room with some of the men who manipulate and ruin the lives of obviously, innocent and vulnerable girls like Annabel. A good documentary, not award winningly shot but the message is clear to see from the makers 'Don't get scorn by porn' Not for the faint hearted, I saw this when it came out and every time i see it i still feel really bad for her and that i should do something about it, mainly to those directly responsible for corrupting her.


This documentary is so nasty and gross that I almost threw up. It's about this woman named Grace but she calls herself Annabel and she makes dirty movies. So she decides to be a record setter in a different way and has sex for ten hours with 251 men. Then when someone breaks her record, she gets all depressed and I think she had a lot more problems than the viewer really saw. The movie was awful and Grace says that she is going to quit making these movies but she just keeps making them. Grace wanted her mom to be proud of her but then went back to making dirty movies. If I were her mother,I would disown her because it's sick and wrong to just lie to her mother's face. Then Grace says that she is doing it for some woman's movement or to make women stronger but that is all just BS. It's a bad movie and if you want to watch a movie on strong women just find something about Eleanor Roosevelt. She was a really strong woman. Annabel Chong or Grace is a very poor example.