Feed

Feed (2005)

I am made uneasy about films pertaining to cyber-snuff and/or cyber porn because, let’s face it, the Internet can be a twisted place. If you have the know-how and the patience to look for endless hours, any content you desire can be found on the Web... legal or not.

Feed follows veteran government Interpol agent Philipp Jackson, who specializes in cyber porn cases. His job takes him everywhere on this planet, but his home office is in Australia. He has just cracked a shocking case in Germany that puts an all-new twist on cannibalism and depravity. When Agent Jackson gets free time alone with the woman he loves, but doesn’t trust, he commits domestic crimes, brought on by the stress of his job and possibly by unrefined fetishes of his own. Agent Jackson and his partner stumble on a website in America that caters to men with a fat fetish and the obese women who perform via a live feed through the site. The men are known as “feeders” and the obese performers are known as “gainers”. Once the performing “gainers” willingly reach a staggering weight total, they are never seen again and usually wind up on a missing persons list. This leads Agent Jackson to Michael Carter, the brutal genius behind the website. A disgusting and suspenseful game of cat and mouse ensues.

FEED was directed by Brett Leonard, who has constantly disappointed me since his debut film THE DEAD PIT, released in 1989. This is the film of his career. He keeps the suspense rolling at an impressive rate. He knows his computers and the detective work the cyber agents perform was highly entertaining and believable. Actor Alex O’Loughlin, who portrays cyber psycho Michael Carter, is so good at this evil character he has the unfortunate possibility of being typecast for the rest of his career.

I think one of the reasons I found this film so nerve-wrecking is that I believe the criminal website could actually exist. While FEED is one of the sickest films I’ve seen in awhile that tackles the sick underground of the Internet, it shouldn’t be missed. It submits many answers to questions most of us are to afraid to ask. As Agent Jacksons supervisor asks, “Is it a crime to feed a person to death?”

2 out of 4

reviewed by Bryan LayneI