SCRAPBOOK (2000)

Scrapbook (2000)
A young woman named Clara is captured by a serial killer named Leonard who records his "life story" by keeping a scrapbook of his many victims. In addition to adhering Polaroids, scraps of clothing, and other small trophies to the pages, Leonard has forced his victims to personally write in the scrapbook about their individual ordeals. Clara is beaten, raped, starved, and locked up like an animal, filthy and naked. She is forced to write in the scrapbook, adding her agony to the pages. She soon realizes that her only hope for survival is to manipulate Leonard through her writings in his cherished scrapbook.

 Okay, so here goes nothing. When I was first given this movie to review, I was admittedly not thrilled about it. I did some research on the movie and, aside from learning that I should make sure my kids are no where in ear shot when I watch it, that it wasn't necessarily bring in rave reviews. I went into it with no expectations.  So that being said, I'll do my best to give a review on it anyway.

 Opening sequence leaves me pretty dumb founded. It's basically a first person shot of a pretty traumatic sexual encounter. I can only assume the person this happened to was Leonard and this is what led to him him becoming a psychopathic killer.  After that, the rest of the story is about Leonard holding Clara hostage. Now the basis of the story is pretty self explained. Leonard has spent his life cataloging his exploits of rape, torture, and murder.  When he abducts Clara, he tells her his whole life story and tells her that his pride and joy is his scrapbook which is going to make his legacy. Yes, he is naive enough to think this book will make him famous and get him on talk shows.  He also informs Clara that she is his last chapter and her job is going to be to document in the book herself.  Now just like any other job she gets rewarded for good work, with things like clean clothes and food. With such great rewards like that, it's only fair she gets punished for bad work. Punishment normally being that she is beaten and/or raped. And you don't even want me to tell you what happens if she gets caught trying to escape.

 So the storyline is actually pretty good.  The acting, for the most part was pretty spot on, especially considering there are only really 2 characters in the whole movie. While I'm on the topic of the acting, I hope Emily Haack (Clara) has some kind of financial perks coming from this movie because there is no way she was paid enough for what she had to go through making this.  Which also leads into the other half of review. This movie literally held nothing back and left nothing to the imagination. It, both figuratively and literally, went balls out.  They took close up camera shots of torture methods and "unwanted sexual encounters."  The way the film was shot gives it the feel of a snuff film. Add to that, the amount of things that they physically let you see on camera, this movie may not be for everyone.  The movie itself actually wasn't bad but it's not really one I would personally recommend. If you are into disturbing movies like August Underground, this may be worth the watch for you. If you don't like the sick and disturbing, I'd probably suggest passing on this one.

               

reviewed by Bobby