Richard (Patrick Thompson, 2005’s Man-Thing) tracks down internet perverts for the Australian police. While that may seem equivalent to pissing in the ocean, things get hot and heavy… real fuckin’ heavy… before too long.
You see, our hero gets clued in on a website that caters to those that are into big gals… 600 pounds or more specifically… but things feel off to our super sleuth, and after some good ol’ movie styled hacking techniques he’s in like Flynn and his investigation begins in earnest!
Along with what one may expect to find on your average, everyday kink site, this particular putrid page displays medical statistics for each woman involved… which makes Richard suspicious enough to ask the powers that be if he can head to the States (and Ohio in particular) investigate the matter.
He’s immediately put on leave and his rough-sex lovin’ girlfriend Jesse (Marika Aubrey) turns up missing… so he decides to head to Ohio whether his boss likes it or not!
Once there he meets Michael Carter (Alex O’Laughlin, Man-Thing as well) a man with a troubled past that is the source of some seriously fucked up content.
Will our hero be able to swallow what the case has to offer, or will he puke into his freaky feed-bag and drift into depravity?!
Coming from Brett Leonard (The Lawnmower Man, Virtuosity, and you better sit down for this shit… Man-Thing) and screenwriter Kieran Galvin, Feed has a strong, disturbing core, but sometimes it’s own visual razzle-dazzle ends up F’n it in the A a bit… to use a technical term.
The film’s breakneck editing is mainly to blame here, as while it does add plenty of visual energy and movement, it diminishes the overall impact of the film’s revolting set-pieces… but that’s not to say that there isn’t grossness to be had (mainly from force feeding sequences, rather than from blood and gore… your mileage may vary here depending on what makes you queasy n’ uneasy), and decent effects work and suits to realize the feature’s obese victims.
One of the big saving graces of the picture are the performances from Thompson and O’Laughlin, with the former making for a compelling, flawed, hero who has plenty of dark recesses to his personality and an insatiable drive to see the case through… and the latter playing the intelligent, yet oh-so-fucked-up villain of the piece. It’s never anything but fascinating to see these two square off as Richard’s life goes ever South.
If you are willing to dig deeper into all of the above, Unearthed Films have included plenty of bonus material on this Blu-ray, including an audio commentary courtesy of Leonard (that details the production in general, with the genesis of the narrative from Thompson and O’Loughlin, the filming, and the picture’s real-life inspirations all being covered… as well as an alternate cut of the film (which appears in less of a visual state than the remastered version that is the showcase of this release).
Also included are: deleted scenes (and an alternate ending, some presented with optional commentary from Leonard), an outtake reel, archival interviews with Leonard, Alex O’Loughlin & Jack Thompson, and producer Melissa Beauford, footage from the film’s Philadelphia premier, a collection of behind-the-scenes footage, an infomercial parody, a still gallery, and the film’s trailer… it’s a lot to chew on for sure!
Bottom line: Feed is a disturbing, slightly flawed, gross-out thriller… and this feature packed release gives us plenty of courses to satisfy our appetite!