Little Deaths Review (Film, 2011) #31DaysOfHorror
content warning: sexual content, foul language, nudity, violence against women, sexual assault, blood, gore, medical/surgical footage, drug use, abusive relationship
Editorial note: this film is intended for adults only. It is unrated due to its sexual content and violence. Please be safe while engaging with this review and the film.
Little Deaths is an anthology horror film from writers/directors Sean Hogan, Andrew Parkinson, and Simon Rumley. The three shorts are connected by their themes: sex and death.
In “House & Home,” a couple become obsessed with a homeless woman in the park. They invite her to their house so she can have a meal and a shower, but really intend to do whatever they want with her.
“House & Home” is a torture short. The couple pretend to be good Christians acting on their faith and reveal that they are depraved criminals taking advantage of the less fortunate. The homeless woman winds up tied to a bed and assaulted. There’s some commentary on class and standing, but it’s window dressing on essentially softcore porn. The revenge element you know is coming doesn’t really balance out the content that came before, especially when the revenge is filmed more suggestively than the explicit assault.
In “Mutant Tool,” Jen is a sex worker and struggling drug addict dating her former pimp, Frank. Frank is also a drug dealer and working with a research doctor, Dr. Reese, to obtain organs for his experiments. Jen agrees to try an experimental new drug being tested by Dr. Reese that has some unfortunate side effects.
“Mutant Tool” is solid psychological horror. The actual conceit behind the new drug is a bit gross, but it ticks off the box for this anthology and likely explains its inclusion at all. The actual horror created through Jen’s struggles before and after the new medication is dark and brutal.
In “Bitch,” Claire is terrified of dogs. She lives with her boyfriend Pete, but Pete is getting tired of Claire’s more extreme sexual preferences. He wants one night for just the two of them and she can’t agree.
This short is a dark psychological horror film about an abusive relationship. Claire and Pete aren’t happy with each other, but they’re stuck in their routine. It’s only a matter of time before one pushes the other too far and things end badly. The needle’s already dropped on the record; we’re just waiting for the song to begin.
Little Deaths is an extreme horror film surrounding sex. I can’t say that I enjoyed the experience, but the shorts are all well made. I imagine there is an audience that will find this film scary and entertaining. The whole thing was just a step too far for me.
Little Deaths is streaming on Shudder.
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