VIFF 2020: Chained
It is clear what Director Titus Heckel is trying to envision with his directorial feature Chained. On paper, it is a brooding chess game of manipulation and a character study, but the execution is far from the intended result.
To begin with the positives, the performances on offer are quite strong. Marlon Kazadi puts forward the most fleshed out performance with quite a heavy set of thematic and contextual weight behind it. Kazadi is not quite there yet concerning subtlety or nuance, with the actor's talent still needing time to grow and develop. Nevertheless, it is a performance that demands depth and weight that, unfortunately, is not provided and, thus, the film falls flat enormously.
The same sentiment is ultimately said for the feature in its entirety. Chained lacks subtlety, interest, layers and, quite harshly, sense. There is a significant amount of preposed weight that surrounds these characters; how it is implemented is one thing, but its execution is a dire proposition of emptiness. The theme of abuse is, for one, an element that seems integral but is surface-level schlock that is unwillingly explored with sub-par material present.
Equally nonsensical is the narrative itself. There are multiple instances in which characters do the strangest and most ludicrous decision making in relevancy to their situations. An issue that crops up in every single scene Chained presents, so much so in fact that, before long, it tests the patience of the viewing experience. Horror has always had this issue thrown at it, somewhat deservedly and others not so much, however, the defence would be that it furthers the plot. In Chained, the same result can not be stated. In actual fact, each more ludicrous decision and motif ultimately stagnates proceedings and strangles any and all momentum regarding pacing but also engagement.
Before long, Chained even has the audacity to throw in twists and turns for good measure – undeserved, of course. Ultimately crafting not only a hollow and quite ironic challenging experience to witness but a feature that has absolutely no idea of its basic principles, such as the concept or its narrative.
