Stained (2019) Movie Review
(AKA The Letter Red)
Written By: FR
Edited By: Grave Reviews Staff
Film Information
Director: Jason Theney
Writer: Jason Theney, Jason Gusts, Arielle Brachfield
Producers: Arielle Brachfeld, Edward Gusts, Joston Theney
Date Released: August 9, 2019
Cast:
Angelica Bridges as Jenny
Melissa Mars as Mary Seyton
Veronica Lavery as Calliope
Michael Wayne Foster as Detective Favor (as Michael Foster)
Arielle Hader as Detective McDuff
Constance Brenneman as Brenda Gains
Linda Bella as Clio
Jessica Sonneborn as Margaret Banquo
Arielle Brachfeld as Jane Macbeth
Edward Gusts as John Macbeth
Rating = 2.5/5 Graves
***May contain some spoilers***
Synopsis
Stained (2019) is loosely based on the play of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The story is about couple, John and Jane Macbeth who move into a ritzy area and begin struggling financially. The plot begins by showing John’s boss, giving him reasons why a big promotion will not happen. However, John needed that promotion in order to maintain his current lifestyle. John is willing to do whatever it takes to attain his goal even if it amounts to murder. While, John is dealing with this issue, his wife, Jane is also dealing with her own issues. However, what starts as a battle to maintain their livelihood ends up taking a path of murder. As Jane slowly slips into an insane obsession, John becomes more and more driven to do whatever it takes to protect his family. This triggers the body count to pile up.
Gore Factor
As this film centers around a couple who become serial killers, there is an ample amount of blood and gore. The stay-at-home wife, Jane, motivates her husband to kill anyone who gets in their way. There is one notable scene that is conceptually disturbing. In this scene, John and Jane perform a C-section on their neighbor. During this scene, the wife cuts the umbilical cord with her bare teeth. Although these actions are not shown, the shear idea of this is grotesque.
The Grave Review
Stained (2019) is a story of a couple who are serial killers driven by greed and desire to achieve the ultimate goal in life. The protagonists are brazen in committing murders after murders of their antagonists. However, to some, the couple may be seen as the antagonist. It is a very dark and desperate look at a modern family’s struggle to keep whatever they have at any cost.
The beginning setup of the plot progressed at a slow deliberate pace. The slow pace may have been intentional in order to give the audience time to build the motivation and pressure of desperation felt by the couple. Unlike other villain films, there is a reason for the couple’s actions which may be understandable to some and a poor excuse to others. However, one unrealistic aspect of this film is the fact that the police were unable to suspect the couple for a long period of time despite the multiple murders which ensued.
The husband and wife brought out convincing performance all throughout the film. The performances displayed in this film are outstanding. Arielle Brachfeld and Edward Gusts’ performance were effective within their respective roles. The performances are present the elements of madness and ambition well. In addition, the supporting cast kept pace as well.
One aspect of this movie worth mentioning is the atmosphere. This is a very intense film and one that becomes more disturbing as the film progresses. In addition, the music and audio tracks also contribute to the film’s intensity.
Stained (2019) is a well-crafted Indie thriller that has all the elements of Macbeth including the melodrama and hysteria, as it manages to adopt to modern environment. The film is written and directed as well as acted well and is an unsettling and original take on one of Shakespeare’s classic plays. However, the pace of the film as well as the dialogue between the couple undermines the film as a whole.
For the foregoing reasons, Grave Reviews gives Stained (2019) two and a half graves out of five graves.
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