I watched Donkey Punch on a whim (it was between that film and the French sci-fi flick, Chrysalis). Both films were up for midnight screenings, but I chose Donkey Punch. Given its lude title and classification as an erotic thriller, it seemed more appropriate and entertaining for the evening. I haven’t seen Chrysalis yet, but I think Donkey Punch was the right choice. It was surely a shocker; most movies chock full of boobies and promiscuous sex turn out to be B-rated throwaways, but Donkey Punch showed a level of creativity that showed a lot of thought beneath the nude exterior.

The movie started off a bit hoaky, with believable but cheesy dialogue and a bright, beachy color palette. It looked like an Abercrombie ad turned film, and it was slightly off-putting. But it was obviously on purpose. As the movie’s storyline progressed and became increasingly sinister, tragedy befalls one of the women, causing character after character to turn on one another due to conflicts of interest. They spiral downwards, and as they do, the color palette of the film changes.

It is obvious the staff of Donkey Punch knew what they were doing in terms of lighting; despite the fact that the latter half of the movie involved the characters stumbling around in the near dark, none of the plot was lost and the darkness was not crippling. It was in fact beneficial and helped contribute to the feeling that the seven characters — many of whom were strangers — were indeed alone on a yacht on an open sea, unable to trust or believe in one another.

Donkey Punch is a film that stuck in my mind for a long time after the movie. Its plot obviously required a lot of thought because of all its little nuances, and the film as a whole was very creative with its death scenes and its character manipulations. Don’t let the name turn you off. If you can find it, watch it (I wouldn’t try searching for it illegally, however, as you’re bound to find a lot of porn).

I guess erotic thrillers aren’t supposed to be that much more than erotic and thrilling. Summer Heat is pretty much exactly those two things, manifested in the form of two somewhat good-looking people with sexual attraction for one another and a loose plot about drug-dealing and an old man who is practically a pimp.

The storyline involves scene after scene of the main character finding himself in similar compromising and voyeuristic positions. Perhaps it is his experience with being a bird photographer for National Geographic, but he becomes an expert at stalking just about anyone and everyone. But not in a creepy way… more like in a… “I’m going to rescue you” type of way. He’s practically Superman when it comes to his saving his chosen lady (who he has known for maybe a few hours).

Summer Heat is entertaining and well-shot, especially with it being director Monica van de Ven’s first attempt at directing a film. The plot as it is, however, Summer Heat feels like a B-rated movie backed by quality camerawork. Entertaining, but bound to be taken more humorously than seriously.

Director:
Monique van der Ven

Producer:
Ate de Jong

Editor:
Job ter Burg

Screenwriter:
Edwin de Vries

Cinematographer:
Lex Brand

Music:
Christian Henson

Principal Cast:
Sophie Hilbrand, Waldemar Torenstra, Jeroen Willems