Traffik (D+ or 1.5/4 stars)
In 'Traffik' (written/directed by Deon Taylor), Sacramento journalist Brea (Paula Patton) is scooped on a big story by a colleague (William Fichtner), but must put it on hold because her boyfriend, John (Omar Epps), has big plans for her birthday. He's recently built her a classic car {'69} & arranged a romantic weekend in a gorgeous, state-of-the-art, secluded mansion owned by his buddy, Darren (Laz Alonso); there, John looks to propose to Brea. Unfortunately, en route, they are accosted by a gang of bikers who have a suspicious woman (Dawn Olivieri) along for the ride {this whole sequence was the best executed in the film; full of tension}.
Later, at said mansion, things are going swell {John & Brea make love in the appealing infinity pool}, but then Darren & his girlfriend (Roselyn Sanchez) show up unexpectedly. In minutes, Brea discovers that a mysterious cell phone has found its way into her pocket book; after cracking the code to open the phone - HIGHLY unrealistic - it reveals a terrifying history of sex trafficking in the area {nearly naked/bruised women}. But before anything can be done about it, the traffickers/bikers from earlier show up at the door; wanting the phone back {ANOTHER unrealistic situation, here}. Chaos ensues as it quickly becomes apparent that these baddies will stop at nothing to protect their nefarious business.
I don't know if this movie had good intentions - to show a strong female heroine going up against nasty sex traffickers - but it is just way too ugly, inefficient & offensive; a VICIOUS thriller that fails to convey serious messages throughout the muck of it all. Firstly, 'Traffik' involves characters {practically all of them} & situations {all of which made my eyes roll} that don't resemble real life; people behave in ways that are perplexing, ONLY to push the dirty plot further. (Brea's reporter job, how everyone behaves in the house, the usual horror/thriller film tropes, the usual IDIOTIC things that one does IN a horror film, etc -- very frustrating). And the movie doesn't seem to care about any of these issues. Another issue I have with the film: Paula Patton. She seems like a lovely person in real life & she isn't a "bad" actress, but there's something about her face - when conveying concern/pain - that I find wholly unconvincing - and that's for every film I see her in.
This film's villains are utterly generic, with a sniveling, sneering baldie as the leader & bearded biker thugs at his disposal; if a 'good character' kills one of 'em ... it means nothing. There's a twist that is both unsurprising & dim-witted. And, perhaps worst of all, like a "torture porn" movie, 'Traffik' comes close to actually REVELING in the brutal treatment of women; with images of scantily-clad women covered in blood & grime -- it just toes a fine line btwn. repulsive & exploitatively alluring. 'Traffik' ends with titles of facts about human trafficking ... as if the movie wants to pretend to be some important, enlightening drama about the material, at hand. But it doesn't go on to say anything interesting about trafficking; just there trying to mask that this is really an "entertainment", and a yucky one, at that.
Later, at said mansion, things are going swell {John & Brea make love in the appealing infinity pool}, but then Darren & his girlfriend (Roselyn Sanchez) show up unexpectedly. In minutes, Brea discovers that a mysterious cell phone has found its way into her pocket book; after cracking the code to open the phone - HIGHLY unrealistic - it reveals a terrifying history of sex trafficking in the area {nearly naked/bruised women}. But before anything can be done about it, the traffickers/bikers from earlier show up at the door; wanting the phone back {ANOTHER unrealistic situation, here}. Chaos ensues as it quickly becomes apparent that these baddies will stop at nothing to protect their nefarious business.
I don't know if this movie had good intentions - to show a strong female heroine going up against nasty sex traffickers - but it is just way too ugly, inefficient & offensive; a VICIOUS thriller that fails to convey serious messages throughout the muck of it all. Firstly, 'Traffik' involves characters {practically all of them} & situations {all of which made my eyes roll} that don't resemble real life; people behave in ways that are perplexing, ONLY to push the dirty plot further. (Brea's reporter job, how everyone behaves in the house, the usual horror/thriller film tropes, the usual IDIOTIC things that one does IN a horror film, etc -- very frustrating). And the movie doesn't seem to care about any of these issues. Another issue I have with the film: Paula Patton. She seems like a lovely person in real life & she isn't a "bad" actress, but there's something about her face - when conveying concern/pain - that I find wholly unconvincing - and that's for every film I see her in.
This film's villains are utterly generic, with a sniveling, sneering baldie as the leader & bearded biker thugs at his disposal; if a 'good character' kills one of 'em ... it means nothing. There's a twist that is both unsurprising & dim-witted. And, perhaps worst of all, like a "torture porn" movie, 'Traffik' comes close to actually REVELING in the brutal treatment of women; with images of scantily-clad women covered in blood & grime -- it just toes a fine line btwn. repulsive & exploitatively alluring. 'Traffik' ends with titles of facts about human trafficking ... as if the movie wants to pretend to be some important, enlightening drama about the material, at hand. But it doesn't go on to say anything interesting about trafficking; just there trying to mask that this is really an "entertainment", and a yucky one, at that.