Crave is a film that you really wish was a bit better than it actually is. It has all the elements required to make a really impressive and thought provoking drama but for some reason, and it’s very difficult to identify exactly why, it falls just a little short.
Aiden (Josh Lawson) is a struggling and downtrodden photographer whose primary source of income is selling crime scene photographs that he takes with the endorsement of his police detective friend Pete (Ron Perlman). Living a relatively lonely existence Aiden drifts into bouts of fantasy which at times he struggles to control and he constantly berates or encourages himself internally. When he meets the beautiful Virginia (Emma Lung) his attraction quickly turns to obsession and when the relationship begins to sour Aiden’s fantasies become increasingly real and increasingly dangerous.
To pigeon-hole Crave into any particular genre would be to do the film an injustice. At its heart Crave is a psychological thriller but there are strong nods towards horror, self-destruction and sex as director Charles de Lauzirika weaves a complex and interesting story of desperation and uncontrollable urges as Aiden becomes increasingly disillusioned and angered by the unpleasantness and lack of morality around him. For the most part these fantasies and dreams are played out in Aiden’s head although when violence comes, either imaginary or real, it is truly visceral and ferocious, leaving the viewer in no doubt as to the darkness prevalent within the human soul. It is this balance of subtlety and in-your-face aggression that also pervades the sex scenes and provides a stark contrast to the majority of Aiden’s minimalist and self critical existence.
The cast are excellent without fail with all the performances being delivered with a nuanced naturality that is reminiscent of more traditional dramatic films and with de Lauzirika’s preference for drawing scenes out, this gives the film an almost voyeuristic feel. Lawson is particularly worthy of note in a role that could so easily have slipped into overacting when the script calls for more intense moments but he presents a very simple and average anti-hero. As stated Crave doesn’t quite deliver on its promise and the drawn out finale is perhaps a little unnecessarily wrought and could have been slightly more in keeping but what had gone before. This is nitpicking though as the film is a perfect example of how intermittent uses of sex and violence are more effective narratively when built around strong dialogue and realistic characters than being used solely to shock and scare.
OVERALL SUMMARY
Crave possibly isn’t for everyone but it would be a shame for it not to reach a wide audience. It is very much worth the effort of seeking it out and while perhaps not an enjoyable film in itself, it is a an excellent example of what can be achieved with a strong story and simple yet believable characters.
