After a traumatic experience, one often seeks to make sense of it, to uncover the underlying reasoning of why something bad has happened to them. But, more often than not, there may not be an answer. And, if there is, it’s certainly not simple. So what does one do, then, when they’ve not just experienced an intense trauma, but are left with no rhyme or reason as to why it happened?
This question is what the main character in writer/director Kenneth Perkins’ film Velvicide seeks to solve. After Velvet Stevens (Gea Rose Henry) is kidnapped and held prisoner for several months, she manages to escape. Desperate for answers, the character turns to a camera crew led by Isaac (JD Starnes) with the hopes that, by recounting her story, she can find the person who did this to her. This narrative runs parallel to that of Callum (Jon Devlin), a suicide hotline operator who’s desperately seeking a purpose. As their narratives intersect, and the extent of Velvet’s traumatic experiences is revealed, we begin to realize Velvet’s most trying days may still be in front of her.
In a tale of brutal revenge, senseless torture, and gruesome either-ors a la the Saw films, Henry’s performance grounds the film in genuine empathy and emotional resonance. She brings a wit and flair to the role that breaks the conventions of the helpless kidnapping victim. Henry also contributes a palpable chemistry to Velvet’s relationship with Isaac, who is played with a devilish charm by Starnes. The duo’s banter and genuine connection create a grounded humanity and humor, to the otherwise bleak scenarios. Playing simultaneously to this blooming relationship is Devlin’s performance as Callum. Devlin brings an assuredness to the characters’ feelings of otherness. This lends not only to our understanding of Callum’s isolation, but to the suspicion of what lengths he’ll go to remedy it.
The key parts are all in place for the film to succeed: A unique premise, strong performances, and a well-constructed narrative thread. But all these elements ultimately rely on a conclusion that is not only satisfying, but makes sense with what we’ve learned of the characters. In this regard, we find ourselves unable to match the characters’ motivations with the events on screen at the end. As such, if the film had spent more time developing reasoning for such extreme scenarios, we’d likely find the narrative impact to land more fully.
The visual language, from the cinematography to the production design, is getting the job done, as everything looks clear, crisp, and communicates the story. However, they’re perhaps underutilized, and could’ve been a further opportunity to heighten the dramatic and horror elements at play. The film’s score, composed with a keen ear for the genre by Nikolas Geerken, is implemented throughout to reflect the emotions happening on screen. This, however, is the key craft element elevating the story, and one can’t help but feel the other tools could’ve been further harnessed for greater emotional impact.
Ultimately, this tale of revenge is about not just facing the worst moment of your life, but figuring out how you could possibly begin to overcome it. It’s not an easy question to solve, but Velvicide proposes that if we’re willing to dig deep enough, there might be an answer for us, too.
