Review by: Dawnrazor
Date: 20th April 2008
OK, before we go any further, if you are homophobic or watching two guys making out makes you
uncomfortable, avoid this movie. This is a gay themed film, and has make out scenes and male
nudity. If that doesn't bother you read on…
Socket is a strange, strange film. A doctor, (Derek Long), is struck by lightning. While recovering
he's approached by an intern, (Matthew Montgomery), also a lightning survivor who invites him to
a meeting of other folk like them. And what you ask are “folks like them”? Survivors of lightning
who have developed a strange relationship with electricity.
Soon we have people with plugs and sockets in their arms. People literally connecting during sex.
Plugging into wall sockets and having strange flashbacks and montages. And a bizarre murder in
the neighbourhood. And a love story between the doctor and the intern. All of which lead to a
very shocking climax, in more ways than one.
In many ways, Socket reminds of one of my favourite films, “Videodrome”, (there's even a
recurring scene involving a man laying his hands on a static filled TV), with its distorted takes on
reality, obsession with bodily modification and mutation and non linear story telling. While it
doesn't have the production values or wild effects of Cronenberg's masterpiece this film does hold
up well for something shot in nine days on a shoestring budget of $45,000.
Indeed the whole production is quite polished and while obviously low budget I would never have
guessed just how low. The photography is polished and looks on par with films of a much higher
budget. There's no fancy Argento-esque camera work but a film like this really doesn't need it.
The fast paced flashback/montage scenes are well shot and edited and often give away important
clues to what's going on and why, so pay attention. And while obviously shot on video it has a
clear, crisp look to it. Not the soft, grainy look of a lot of camcorder epics. It definitely helps give
the film a much more professional look to it. I really wish more low budget films would take the
time and effort to achieve this because the crappy shot on video look is a major turn off for a lot
of people.
The film has a small cast and they all give good performances. It would have been easy to place
into the melodrama of the love story, or play it over the top with the film's more bizarre elements.
But they resist this temptation and deliver very believable performances. The male/male love
scenes are handled without any awkwardness or embarrassment. A quick check of the leads other
credits reveal several other gay themed films, (including the incredibly titled “The Gay Bed and
Breakfast of Terror”), so it may well be natural for them.
The actresses playing the lesbian couple who are Dr Mathew's friends are also quite good. And
you pervs can stop your drooling, they look like real lesbians, not the cast of the latest Misty
Mundae soft-core grope fest.
The special effects are minor, sockets and retractable plugs in peoples arms and some surgery
footage for the most part. They're pulled off well and look convincing without stealing the focus
away from the story itself. And that's how it should be, because at its core “Socket” is a love
story. A twisted one, but a love story none the less.
The screener I got had nothing in the way of extras, (it didn't even have a menu), so I can't say
anything about them. The retail version does include commentary from the writer/director,
producer and the two leads, a “making of” featurette and a photo gallery. Given how fast and
inexpensively this was shot I'd love to have heard about the filming itself. Hopefully more
companies will start including things like these on their screeners.
To sum up, for those who can deal with the gay aspects and male nudity, “Socket” is a distinctly
twisted love story and a showcase for what talented filmmakers can do with an extremely low
budget and short shooting schedule.
Date: 20th April 2008
OK, before we go any further, if you are homophobic or watching two guys making out makes you
uncomfortable, avoid this movie. This is a gay themed film, and has make out scenes and male
nudity. If that doesn't bother you read on…
Socket is a strange, strange film. A doctor, (Derek Long), is struck by lightning. While recovering
he's approached by an intern, (Matthew Montgomery), also a lightning survivor who invites him to
a meeting of other folk like them. And what you ask are “folks like them”? Survivors of lightning
who have developed a strange relationship with electricity.
Soon we have people with plugs and sockets in their arms. People literally connecting during sex.
Plugging into wall sockets and having strange flashbacks and montages. And a bizarre murder in
the neighbourhood. And a love story between the doctor and the intern. All of which lead to a
very shocking climax, in more ways than one.
In many ways, Socket reminds of one of my favourite films, “Videodrome”, (there's even a
recurring scene involving a man laying his hands on a static filled TV), with its distorted takes on
reality, obsession with bodily modification and mutation and non linear story telling. While it
doesn't have the production values or wild effects of Cronenberg's masterpiece this film does hold
up well for something shot in nine days on a shoestring budget of $45,000.
Indeed the whole production is quite polished and while obviously low budget I would never have
guessed just how low. The photography is polished and looks on par with films of a much higher
budget. There's no fancy Argento-esque camera work but a film like this really doesn't need it.
The fast paced flashback/montage scenes are well shot and edited and often give away important
clues to what's going on and why, so pay attention. And while obviously shot on video it has a
clear, crisp look to it. Not the soft, grainy look of a lot of camcorder epics. It definitely helps give
the film a much more professional look to it. I really wish more low budget films would take the
time and effort to achieve this because the crappy shot on video look is a major turn off for a lot
of people.
The film has a small cast and they all give good performances. It would have been easy to place
into the melodrama of the love story, or play it over the top with the film's more bizarre elements.
But they resist this temptation and deliver very believable performances. The male/male love
scenes are handled without any awkwardness or embarrassment. A quick check of the leads other
credits reveal several other gay themed films, (including the incredibly titled “The Gay Bed and
Breakfast of Terror”), so it may well be natural for them.
The actresses playing the lesbian couple who are Dr Mathew's friends are also quite good. And
you pervs can stop your drooling, they look like real lesbians, not the cast of the latest Misty
Mundae soft-core grope fest.
The special effects are minor, sockets and retractable plugs in peoples arms and some surgery
footage for the most part. They're pulled off well and look convincing without stealing the focus
away from the story itself. And that's how it should be, because at its core “Socket” is a love
story. A twisted one, but a love story none the less.
The screener I got had nothing in the way of extras, (it didn't even have a menu), so I can't say
anything about them. The retail version does include commentary from the writer/director,
producer and the two leads, a “making of” featurette and a photo gallery. Given how fast and
inexpensively this was shot I'd love to have heard about the filming itself. Hopefully more
companies will start including things like these on their screeners.
To sum up, for those who can deal with the gay aspects and male nudity, “Socket” is a distinctly
twisted love story and a showcase for what talented filmmakers can do with an extremely low
budget and short shooting schedule.
| "Plug In ... Get Off" |
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Socket
SCREENER/APPROX. 90 MINS/2007/USA UNRATED
SCREENER/APPROX. 90 MINS/2007/USA UNRATED
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