Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Violation’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘Violation’. Which could trigger individuals that are sensitive to subject matter revolving around sexual assault.
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Over the course of our short time upon this planet, mankind has managed to accomplish all kinds of wonders. For not only have we been able to come together and create grand cities with plenty of resources for its citizens, but we’ve also been able to invent technologies that have made our lives better. To the point where we are now beginning to cure diseases that have plagued humanity for ages on end and of course, our technological prowess has allowed for us to reach the stars and communicate with anyone around the world on a moment’s notice. But while we have indeed accomplished some incredible feats, our push for comfort and innovation has allowed for other long-standing issues to persist, for far too long. For we still judge people based upon their social standing or gender identity or the color of their skin, despite the fact that science has proven that we are all the same species and bleed the same blood.
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Plus, we still use religion as motivation to commit heinous acts and worst of all, we still harm one another in an incalculably cruel manner, and it is that cruelty that is relevant and important to our discussion today. Simply because this is one of the few outstanding issues in our world, that we are actually taking the time to focus upon from a scientific standpoint in order to end it, and what we’ve discovered thus far about it, is fascinating to say the least. For now, we know that environment and marginalization and abuse, help to motivate people to commit awful acts upon one another, which are revelations that have brought forth new methods to try and stop negative and harmful behaviors from being formed. But even then, that doesn’t fully solve the problem, since cruelty still occurs on a consistent basis in everyday life, for various reasons. Leaving one to wonder, what exactly will it take to finally bring it to an end?

Oddly enough, that’s the kind of question that the horror genre is working to answer by way of terrifying stories that show us man’s cruelty in great detail, in the hopes of getting us to listen to some oddly simple solutions and one such film that accomplishes this in a harrowing and unsettling manner, is the brand-new Shudder feature Violation. Now in this particular tale, we are introduced to a woman named Miriam who is at a crossroads in her life. For her marriage is on the rocks and her sister Greta has become distant after marrying a man named Dylan. Leaving Miriam frustrated and eager to open up to anyone that will listen to her troubles, and one fateful night, while she and her hubby are at a cabin with Greta and Dylan, she finally gets the chance to be open with Dylan. An act that he sees as an invitation to more, something he is incorrect about. But his decision to press ahead with his belief, leads to an awful moment between he and Miriam. One that is further compounded by her sister’s rejection of what happened, leaving Miriam with little choice but to handle the resolution of this nightmare on her own, in the most vengeful and terrifying way imaginable.

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So, let’s just go ahead and make it clear right now; that this particular horror film holds nothing back in its examination of sexual assault and its lasting and damaging impact. Which makes for an incredibly harrowing viewing experience. One that will leave you squirming in your seat from beginning to end and well, that’s not a knock on this film in the slightest. Because sexual assault is no joke and nothing to make light of or stylize, and presenting it here in such an unfettered fashion truly allows for the viewer to get some understanding of the sheer horror of this heinous crime, one that is another form of the cruelty we impart upon one another, and one that tends to engender more cruelty. Since the stigma surrounding it motivates people to deny its existence or outright call the accuser a liar to their face, which is something that happens here. Since Miriam is mocked by her sister for speaking the truth.
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Which in turn leads to more horrific imagery, as we watch in great detail as Miriam murders and dismembers her attacker in an effort to find some kind of peace. An act that some could construe as nothing more than an eye for an eye or commentary on the cyclical nature of the cruelty that mankind seems to thrive within. But the fact of the matter is, Miriam’s idea of justice, is nothing more than a grand tragedy. One that speaks to a person that is so broken and so shattered by their experience and the pain of being called a liar and of being marginalized as an object… that they have no choice but to go this far to find peace and even then, the film strongly implies that said peace will never come. Since the root pain was never dealt with in the slightest and well, all of these stunning and disturbing elements are on display to hammer home the movie’s answer, in regard to what it is going to take to bring cruelty and nightmares such as this to an end, and surprisingly, the answer is question is supremely simple in nature.

In that, we can’t bury these kinds of situations in the back of our minds any further or ignore them because we think someone is lying or trying to ‘garner attention’. Instead, we need to treat something akin to this or this actual situation, with urgency and believe what people have to say about the situation in question. Because to do so, brings forth immediate accountability, the kind that will allow for someone in Miriam’s shoes to have some sense of closure so they can begin the healing process and most important of all, it lets folks like Dylan understand, that this is not acceptable, and to respect boundaries and respect others period and that is quite the powerful message to embed within this horror film. One that is truly devastating in every sense of the word and it is also one that deserves our attention and our time. Since it is one of the few films out there, that is brave enough to spotlight an incredibly important topic that we simply don’t talk about enough.

‘Violation’ is streaming now on Shudder.   

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