Senseless (2008) Review

Some stories are best told in the smallest of places, with the least amount of CG, and a close relation to the horror of people rather than things. Things like seeing, smelling, tasting are taken for granted every day but this film will bring you back to a state of appreciation. Directed by Simon Hynd in 2008, Senseless redirects our insecurities and opens you up to a new plane of awareness.

A man, whom we know very little of, is suddenly abducted and locked in an extremely white almost hotel-like prison cell. He is unable to escape, and what remains are dozens of cameras, capturing him at every angle. Our protagonist, Elliot Gast (Jason Behr), is stoic in the beginning, facing his newfound predicament with an unusual amount of understanding. After several days, being provided with enough food and exercise, a masked man appears and begins what will be a long and painful journey for Elliot. Over the course of several weeks, this terrorist group methodically and maliciously destroys each of Elliot’s five senses while broadcasting the horrifying events worldwide to anyone willing to pay enough to watch.

This film seemed to unravel to me like an onion, revealing one layer after the next, each unveiling another sick angle to exploit. A combination of psychological warfare and gore porn, Senseless provides the best of both worlds when Elliot fails to gain an answer to his incessant question of “Why am I here?” I found it very insightful the way this film reflects American culture’s obsession with reality television, consumerism, and a detachment from humanity. The performance of Elliot was terrific, which is all you can ask for when it comes to a movie centered solely on one character’s struggle. The cinematography could’ve offered a lot more intensity for the scenario, but the overall story development held my attention.

Savage Score locks in at a 4 out of 5. If you enjoyed a movie like Buried, you’ll get similar results here. Gore score is a 4 out of 10, but don’t underestimate their ability to shock you with what little they use. If you find yourself with too much to do and in need of a reminder to be thankful, sit in front of your television and get strictly Senseless.