Sometimes,
film or video clips tend to garner more attention when the title is
weird. It intrigues, but in this case, most people will just see a
mess of words they do not understand and pass it over. After all, if
the title is incomprehensible, the film itself usually mirrors that
sentiment. However, if you are one of those people annoyed by overly
long or complex titles, let me explain, even just to keep you from
ignoring this delightful sickery.
After
all, I think many of us share in these very fetishes ourselves. Those
of you who enjoy a good bout of BDSM already know this.
By
definition, ‘dacryphilia’ is a paraphilia by which one becomes
aroused by sobbing or tears in another individual. That is the
concise explanation, but this is usually more complex in psychology
and the practice of dominant and submissive sexual acts.
Then
there is ‘hematolagnia’, the exciting sexual fetish for blood
which evokes arousal when displayed by the fetishist's sexual
partner, especially when in the nude.Sounds
like a good Sunday afternoon to me, and director Shane Ryan shares
that outlook. The California native has some controversial works
under his belt. With his reputation for the unorthodox delivery of
hard-hitting subjects that had him banned before (long story), actor
and writer Ryan has admitted that he never intended to direct. Pity,
as he is pretty good at it.
In
this short film, which is practically a music video without the good
music, he explores two aspects of a woman’s life – her life and
her death in two parts that divide the short. At first, the viewer is
bombarded with apparently nonsensical images of a dying man (Shane
Ryan) and woman (Lilly Montano) while the lead character, an
anonymous woman, enjoys their fleeting mortality by writhing and
embracing what looks to be her own victims.
Technically,
the direction and execution of the premise is very good, reminiscent
of Argento in places, which should warn you that this is an art film
that relies on metaphor and takes a more contemplative point of view.
The two subjects in the title is evident by the bloody montages and
the overall melancholy of the lead woman, played by Lilith Singson,
even though the short film feels that it missed its intended mark at
the end, evoking a sense of incomplete confusion.
Apart
from the terrible choice of score which is intended to be morose, but
just sounds amateurish, Dacryphilia
+ Hematolagnia excels
as an art piece with sound direction and post production. Worth at
least three watches, and at seven odd minutes run time, you can
afford it.
-Tasha Danzig
