"Feed Me" is about a troubled and emotionally disturbed man who volunteers to be eaten alive by a total and utter lunatic. The film also opens with a written statement that it's based on a true story. Before you start thinking it's impossible for a deranged plot synopsis like to be truthful, let me assure you it's real! In 2002, in Germany, the strangest case of murder/cannibalism in human history came to the surface.
This isn't the first film to be inspired by the sinister case of Armin Meiwes (the cannibal) and Bernd Jürgen Brandes (the voluntary human meal). The other ones, "Rothenburg" (2006) and "Cannibal" (2005) were more factual, whereas "Feed Me" is largely fiction and a bizarre attempt to blend gruesome horror with absurd humor. This approach admittedly doesn't work very well, and particularly the slapstick often feels very misplaced.
The most positive thing I can write is that the writers/directors' duo Adam Leader and Richard Oakes tried to give a plausible and identifiable background to why the "victim" allows himself to be eaten. Jed Freeman is heartbroken and overwhelmed by guilt since his wife passed away from the consequences of an extreme eating disorder. That addition is really good, but the character of Lionel flack - the killer/cannibal - practically ruined everything for me. He's totally cuckoo, lives in house that is filthier than the average dumpster, and he decorates his place with paintings of his naked mother. The sudden and abrupt chances from comical into dead-serious tone are difficult to process, there are many dull moments, and far too many pointless pieces of footage. The gore is very explicit and disgusting, but never shocking.
"Feed Me" sadly isn't a film I would rapidly recommend, and yet I do wish to mention that the makers, Adam Leader and Richard Oakes, are cool people with a lot of knowledge and passion for the genre. They were present at the festival in Belgium where the film premiered, and amiably mingled with all the people in the bar. Actress Samantha Loxley was there as well. She's a stunningly beautiful woman, and it was a pity to hear that most of here scenes didn't make the final cut.
This isn't the first film to be inspired by the sinister case of Armin Meiwes (the cannibal) and Bernd Jürgen Brandes (the voluntary human meal). The other ones, "Rothenburg" (2006) and "Cannibal" (2005) were more factual, whereas "Feed Me" is largely fiction and a bizarre attempt to blend gruesome horror with absurd humor. This approach admittedly doesn't work very well, and particularly the slapstick often feels very misplaced.
The most positive thing I can write is that the writers/directors' duo Adam Leader and Richard Oakes tried to give a plausible and identifiable background to why the "victim" allows himself to be eaten. Jed Freeman is heartbroken and overwhelmed by guilt since his wife passed away from the consequences of an extreme eating disorder. That addition is really good, but the character of Lionel flack - the killer/cannibal - practically ruined everything for me. He's totally cuckoo, lives in house that is filthier than the average dumpster, and he decorates his place with paintings of his naked mother. The sudden and abrupt chances from comical into dead-serious tone are difficult to process, there are many dull moments, and far too many pointless pieces of footage. The gore is very explicit and disgusting, but never shocking.
"Feed Me" sadly isn't a film I would rapidly recommend, and yet I do wish to mention that the makers, Adam Leader and Richard Oakes, are cool people with a lot of knowledge and passion for the genre. They were present at the festival in Belgium where the film premiered, and amiably mingled with all the people in the bar. Actress Samantha Loxley was there as well. She's a stunningly beautiful woman, and it was a pity to hear that most of here scenes didn't make the final cut.