Xpiation: Written Review

Xpiation

Written Review

Hi everyone, and welcome to MyIndie Review Vlog, the show that gives you spoiler-free reviews of indie films. My Name is Asaf Angel from MyIndie Productions, and today’s review is of 2018’s horror feature, Xpiation, directed by MyIndie featured artist, Italian extreme filmmaker Domiziano Cristopharo.

This will be the third film directed by Domiziano that I review on the show, having reviewed Red Krokodil and The Museum Of Wonders in previous episodes.

Xpiation is the third and final instalment in Domiziano’s Trilogy Of Death, following 2015’s Torment, directed by Adam Ford, and 2017 American Guinea Pig: Sacrifice, directed by Poison Rouge. Both were also reviewed on the show in earlier episodes.

Thank you, Domiziano, for sharing yet another film with us.

The story begins with a young man, portrayed by Emanuele Delia, who is bound to a chair and gagged at the end of a large hallway in a dingy building that looks like it is scheduled for demolition. At his feet, sleeping on the dirty dusty ground, is a slightly older fellow with a disheveled appearance, played by Simone Tolu. Closer to the other end of the hallway, on a lounge chair, sits a well groomed woman, played by Chiara Pavoni. with a cold grim look on her face, she’s holding a digital video camera, recording the men in front of her.

The man on the ground wakes, and commences to hideously torture the young man on the chair, for the entertainment of the woman who keeps her eyes on them, yet continues to sport an indifferent look.

Right from the start, we as viewers may get a sense that what is taking place, is part of a sick ritual. That the torture process itself has meaning. It seems the torturer is enjoying himself deeply. We also quickly realize that without a doubt, the woman is running the show. She governs the torturer and cleverly manipulates him to do her bidding, as it felt for a brief moment, that he is doing these unspeakable things while absent minded, almost like he is under her spell. She nurtures him and keeps him focused on what he must do. We soon learn that he is a drug addict who is completely bound to the woman’s will and her willingness to feed his addiction.

Domiziano wisely conceals any circumstances that would make sense of this gory presentation. Instead he chose to slowly delve into our characters and by that have us try to decipher what they are about. Domiziano does that in various ways. He lets us glance at the woman’s past, clearly revealing that she was an entirely different person than who she is now.

There are also wonderful scenes, designed, at least in my mind, to allow us to go deeper into our characters’ thoughts and pain. Domiziano constructs spectacles that collide with the logic of what we expect to see, after the primary characters have been introduced. For example, He gives visuals that help us understand the inner battle of the drug-addled servant by showing him witnessing a couple of drug dealers that have a strange illogical interaction with him. Domiziano gives visuals to help us understand the just how committed the woman is and how important this ritual is to her.

The concept of Xpiation, or ‘atonement’, is explored in the film in intriguing ways. For example, we are shown flashbacks from the woman’s past that may be interpreted as pivotal events in her life. We are shown what she goes through, the choices she makes and how they lead to where she is now as consequence.

Later in the film, when the truth comes out, we may understand the connection between the concept of Xpiation in all its stages, and its regard to all our characters.

There is also a deeper concept embedded in the film, one of political commentary. In various scenes, the film deals with false patriotism, fascism, racism, immigration, government control of the people and more. Since the story is told in Italy, I suspect that well-informed Italian citizens might be able to better identify the political statements hinted in the film. I can’t really give examples for fear of spoiling.

From what I’ve seen of Domiziano’s films so far, the richness of layers and intrigue are major elements they all have in common. I believe that is because of his formalistic approach. Domizinao gives a great deal of thought not only to what he wishes to convey, but to how he is going to present it. He keeps finding interesting ways to do that, which makes his work linger in the mind long after the credit-roll ends.

To sum up, this is a wonderfully constructed story that delves into its characters in a variety of ways, which makes for a captivating viewing experience. Production Value is well above average. Cinematography by Domiziano is excellent. Practical and special effects are very well done, and in case it wasn’t clear so far, the film contains high levels of violence and gore, so viewer discretion is advised.

Xpiation gets an 8/10 on the Look At Me, I’m A Film Critic scale!

The film is still on its festival run, so stay tuned for its release.

Until next time, keep supporting Indie film. My name is Asaf Angel. I thank you for tuning in to MyIndie Review Vlog! See you next week!