Psychos (2016)
Starring Melissa Elena Jones, Angelica Chitwood, Deniele Cloutier
Directed by Sandy Chukhadarian
It’s often thought that the mental psyche of victims can become more frayed than that of their tormentors, especially considering the circumstances they’ve been under. Director Sandy Chukhadarian pulls the layers back on survivor’s revenge and gives the audience a peek at how one’s mind can be altered after suffering both mental and physical agony at the hands of a captor. The film is called Psychos, and I don’t even think good old Norman Bates would want to contend with this trio of angry ladies.
The film, which is loosely based upon the true story out of Cleveland, Ohio, where three young women were held captive over the course of 11 years by a man who imprisoned them, basically keeping them locked away from the public until their escape in 2013. The movie takes the same premise, focusing on three young women who have suffered through likewise abuse (though not quite the length of time), and we see them now as individuals who are still trapped in their own personal hell, yet manage to move through life.
Norma (Jones) is a socially awkward teacher, while JJ (Cloutier) is a med student eking her way by in school, and then we’ve got the boozer-stripper, Sasha (Angelica Chitwood) – each scratching their nails off to resume some sort of normalcy in their existence, if that’s at all possible. Yet, still the fire burns in their minds about what took place some years ago. More important here is the notion that they’ve somewhat lost their sense of inner feeling, other than that of hatred and pure vengeance – the kind of combination that makes it a bit difficult to keep your head above water in society.
The movie showcases their lives, and when they finally do come in contact with each other after all these years, it’s a rather bloody, vindictive plan they hatch to get back at the scumbag who caused them so much anguish.
What follows is a fairly decent psychological thriller that contains an upright backstory, some interesting plot swerves, and the wonder of how these ladies’ revenge ploy will work out, if it comes to fruition at all. I can see the performances by all three of the leading ladies in a Jekyll/Hyde fashion, with the imminent fringe of sanity slipping away; however, they all manage to keep somewhat connected to each other (survivor’s connection, I suppose). The acting is a bit iffy but still ultimately keeps the film held together nicely.
This is not a movie that harnesses its energy on the bloodletting, but rather how the psyche works over the course of time and if such a plan for retribution can be exacted successfully. It’s definitely worth a look if it manages to cross your path.
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Film
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