SADISTIC INTENTIONS
Written and directed by Eric Pennycoff
Outliers of music drift into the mainstream unnoticed by those who never knew the form when it was drifting in obscurity. Grindcore and extreme metal are not something I’d ever associated with Christina Applegate. Now DEAD TO ME has aired on Netflix, she will be forever be the grieving character of Jen Harding seeking solace from a cruel world to the oblique, hard sounds of blast beats and guttural screaming. Stu, played by Jeremy Gardner, is a man who truly believes in the redemptive powers of this kind of music. He’s wedded to his pencil and journal, jotting down his cruel, twisted lyrics of hate and anger whenever they pop into his dogmatic head. Chloe, played by Taylor Zaudtke, is a weed smoking, small time dealer who brings a mellower outlook on life.
Brought together under mysterious circumstances at a lavish house with a pool, they um and they argh about even sticking around. This tentatively evolves into the most unlikely romantic situations. To be fair, this is due to Chloe’s willingness to entertain Stu’s narrow views on music, and less on his want to get to know her. Regardless, she breaks down his bedroom-bore, angsty barriers and exposes a softer, dare we say emotional side to him. That is until psychotic band member Kevin makes himself known and splits Stu’s loyalties in two. It’s pathetic to see him retreat back to insecure man-child so readily. This power shift puts Chloe’s life in danger and exposes the worst intentions of these metal geeks.
Gardner and Zaudtke bring an awkward, convincing chemistry...
Gardner and Zaudtke bring an awkward, convincing chemistry that makes the trials and tribulations of SADISTIC INTENTIONS one of the heart, as much as it ultimately descends into the more odious and cruel dark places that unhinged Kevin wishes to visit for kicks.
