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From the opening scene, to the credits, "Victims" forces you to acknowledge the true depths grief and despair may lead a person, the realities of narcissistic abuse, and the fact that some people truly are born horrifically evil.
Unlike most films within this genre, "Victims" draws you into each and every character's state of mind, forcing you to emphasize with even the most vile. "Gatling" played by Julian Richings gives a positively terrifying performance, which is only overshadowed by the character of "Riley", played by Sebastian Pigott.
Together the two attack "Lindsey", played by Katherine Isabella whose performance throughout the film is positively unmatched, while her husband, "Spencer" played by Christian Campbell is away from the house. Together the two torture "Lindsey" in the most horrendous way imaginable, while Riley restrains and rapes "Lindsey", "Gatling" drowns their infant son just feet away, completely within her line of sight.
It is not clear within the film how exactly Spencer finds out about the attack, but you are left to assume that he shows up while the rape is taking place. Spencer, who we later learn was heavily abused as a child by his father, who witnessed his own mothers suicide, seems to become utterly unraveled. Capturing both Gatling and Lindsey, he imprisons them in the basement, subjecting each to unthinkable torments, both psychologically and physically. Eventually Spencer is able to bring himself to kill Gatlin, in order to avenge his son after seeing that there is no humanity living within him.
Through many flashbacks we learn that "Lindsey" appeared to once be happily married to "Spencer". Though there are heavy undertones suggesting Spencer has serious abandonment issues due to his own childhood. Then, when faced with the loss of his son, and the rape of his wife, these traits are exacerbated, transforming Spencer into a unrecognizable version of himself, one much resembling that of his own abusive father.
Fraught with uncontrollable grief, Spencer seems to lose all hold on reality. When Lindsey, who is fully aware of the events unfolding in the basement, can see that the husband she once shared a child with no longer exists. She expresses her desire to leave, Spencer terrified of losing the last piece of his past life, chooses to imprison her by securing a chain to her ankle, believing that once Riley is killed, their life could go back to normal.
With no neighbors for miles, Lindsey is forced to survive in the dilapidated house, windows boarded, locks on every door, most nights she sleeps in the closet floor of a bedroom that we can only assume was once her child's.
There are times throughout this film in which Lindsey has the opportunity to get away, to kill Spencer, and even the chance to kill Riley, though she can't seem to bring herself to do either, paralleling the situation many women face when deciding whether or not to leave their abusers.
The film culminates, with Lindsey realizing that she is pregnant, knowing the child isn't Spencer's, Lindsey is all too aware of what lengths Spencer would go to end not only her unborn child's life, but her own as well. Speaking with Riley through a laundry shoot, Riley manages to manipulate Lindsey into helping him escape. Believing she can trust Riley, she sets him free only to soon learn what a grave mistake she's made.
Throughout the film Chris Abell manages to visually express the depths of grief, depression, and many forms of abuse in a way which I have never before seen accomplished in cinematics.
Unlike most films within this genre, "Victims" draws you into each and every character's state of mind, forcing you to emphasize with even the most vile. "Gatling" played by Julian Richings gives a positively terrifying performance, which is only overshadowed by the character of "Riley", played by Sebastian Pigott.
Together the two attack "Lindsey", played by Katherine Isabella whose performance throughout the film is positively unmatched, while her husband, "Spencer" played by Christian Campbell is away from the house. Together the two torture "Lindsey" in the most horrendous way imaginable, while Riley restrains and rapes "Lindsey", "Gatling" drowns their infant son just feet away, completely within her line of sight.
It is not clear within the film how exactly Spencer finds out about the attack, but you are left to assume that he shows up while the rape is taking place. Spencer, who we later learn was heavily abused as a child by his father, who witnessed his own mothers suicide, seems to become utterly unraveled. Capturing both Gatling and Lindsey, he imprisons them in the basement, subjecting each to unthinkable torments, both psychologically and physically. Eventually Spencer is able to bring himself to kill Gatlin, in order to avenge his son after seeing that there is no humanity living within him.
Through many flashbacks we learn that "Lindsey" appeared to once be happily married to "Spencer". Though there are heavy undertones suggesting Spencer has serious abandonment issues due to his own childhood. Then, when faced with the loss of his son, and the rape of his wife, these traits are exacerbated, transforming Spencer into a unrecognizable version of himself, one much resembling that of his own abusive father.
Fraught with uncontrollable grief, Spencer seems to lose all hold on reality. When Lindsey, who is fully aware of the events unfolding in the basement, can see that the husband she once shared a child with no longer exists. She expresses her desire to leave, Spencer terrified of losing the last piece of his past life, chooses to imprison her by securing a chain to her ankle, believing that once Riley is killed, their life could go back to normal.
With no neighbors for miles, Lindsey is forced to survive in the dilapidated house, windows boarded, locks on every door, most nights she sleeps in the closet floor of a bedroom that we can only assume was once her child's.
There are times throughout this film in which Lindsey has the opportunity to get away, to kill Spencer, and even the chance to kill Riley, though she can't seem to bring herself to do either, paralleling the situation many women face when deciding whether or not to leave their abusers.
The film culminates, with Lindsey realizing that she is pregnant, knowing the child isn't Spencer's, Lindsey is all too aware of what lengths Spencer would go to end not only her unborn child's life, but her own as well. Speaking with Riley through a laundry shoot, Riley manages to manipulate Lindsey into helping him escape. Believing she can trust Riley, she sets him free only to soon learn what a grave mistake she's made.
Throughout the film Chris Abell manages to visually express the depths of grief, depression, and many forms of abuse in a way which I have never before seen accomplished in cinematics.