sitabanu
Watching this 'movie' was an awe-filled exercise in simulated audience participation. The viewer is quite aware - on one level - that it is a movie within a virtual reality show but on another level does prove - if one watches it to the end - that we are fascinated with pain as long as it is not our own to borrow a phrase from the writer. The truth of one statement certainly lingers..."Debt is better than any treaty," and finds its equally horrible juxtaposition that "Sin is nothing without judgment". I cannot say this was a likable movie and no doubt the lesson is as ironic as the statement "Being innocent didn't make anyone not get beat up." If nothing else the viewer goes on a philosophical journey into man's inhumanity to man's steps at civilization versus being civilized. Still appropriate and should remain so...but at some point won't we really have to get better at it?
wynonasbigbrownbeaver
The movie Senseless was one of those movies I risked renting on iTunes. The premise seemed to display some promise in the suspense department. I am a bit split on my opinion of this movie as it primarily takes place inside this white wall confine in which Jason Behr's character is being held hostage for a televised torture porno. Apparently online viewers can pay his captors vast amounts of money just so they can watch our protagonist undergo sporadic and systematic torture sequences. Overall, it was well produced and acted. Senseless operated effectively within its budget and didn't take any economical risks since most of the screening is dedicated to that one white walled room. The main villain had some depth but his henchmen other than the villainess Nim were just bodies behind alien masks. The protagonist is well developed yet still remained mysterious as one of the innocent victims. Senesless is a movie with deeply disturbing psychological roots that uncovers certain moral issues. This was a movie that definitely made me think.Senseless tried to keep me intrigued and sustained in the protagonist's cubicle but nonetheless made me impatient to watch. The occasional supporting cast that play his captors are temporarily refreshing but it gets old quickly when they systematically continue throughout the film maiming Jason Behr's character. Yes, I found myself wincing at the bazaar torture sequences every time they bound him. But it did get repetitive, and it felt like a run around. I hastily anticipated a pivotal escape scene or something else other than a meaningless flashback, but none of that happened.My other problem was the sensibility in the writing and yes, the questionable flashbacks that didn't really applied to the story but rather too much on Jason's Behr's character. I was asking myself if people are contributing money to the captor's cause, wouldn't the money be tracked straight to the captors hideout? To where a much desired SWAT team could make an intermittent imposition? That part just doesn't make sense and needed more elaboration to why the protagonist was held for 6 weeks without any hope to be rescued. What would have worked for Senseless was maybe a better side story that would lead to the inevitable "release" of the main character. Maybe some more funding to create a slew of extras to add some richness to the story. Some plot holes could have been covered. I am a bit iffy on recommending Senseless. But overall it was okay and wasn't entirely disappointing.
kosmasp
I won't spoil the ending, but I will talk about the (paper thin) plot, that's why I put the spoiler alert/tag. If you haven't seen the movie, but have plans to do so (although I wouldn't recommend that as you can see by my voting), I'd tell you not to read this beforehand.This movie is in the vain of similar torture movies (or "gorno" as they are called). While the American business man is supposed to be a everyday man we (or let's say a "western" audience) can relate to, but still stay ambiguous enough, that never fully gets "exploited". Instead it's more exploitation and in a bad way. Robbing a man of his "senses" and making it as painful as possible. But watching this is even more painful, especially because it is as predictable as it can get. While Saw (at least the first one) had an intelligent twist to the whole thing, this movie tries to disguise the whole torture thing with a social commentary, that just doesn't work ...What I didn't know, but read here on IMDb, is the fact, that this was based on a novel. As a read this might have been more interesting, but after watching the movie, I don't feel the need for more ... "torture"
gilmartin09
An American business man is held hostage and tortured for his crimes. His captivity is broadcast on the internet where the public vote on his fate.If the mention of torture in the synopsis leaves you expecting a variation on Hostel or the Saw series you will no doubt be disappointed. In many ways Senseless is the antithesis of those films which use violence and torture to titillate the audience. Instead it actively engages the viewer, forcing them to question their motivation for watching.This is a brave and provocative film. It plays out in a white, featureless room with only one flawed character for the viewer to root for, and yet within these restrictive parameters the director has fashioned a tight, terrifying story that sucks you in almost despite yourself and gives you that feeling of desperately wanting to turn away, while being too tied up in the characters and story to stop watching.Yes, the violence is sickening at times, and in many respects it is totally senseless, but I think that's the point.