GIRLS AGAINST EMPATHY
The 2012 film Girls Against Boys stars Danielle Panabaker of Friday the 13th 2009 (Ed Note: And Sky High!). The story revolves around Shae, a college student dating a married man. At the start of the film Shae’s married boyfriend breaks up with her stating he is going to try to work things out with his wife. Shae is devastated as any college girl whose boyfriend dumps them would be. Her solution is to go out on the town with a fellow bartender from the club she works at, Lulu (Nicole LaLiberte)
Lulu has already been revealed to the viewer as deranged and possibly dangerous, so obviously no good can come of this night out (ED NOTE: My exact sentiments every time we sit down to podcast). While out drinking, Lulu and Shae are befriended by several young men. They accept an invitation back the apartment where two of these men live. A few times during the evening Shae kisses one of the men but nothing goes any further. When she decides to leave, her hook up offers to ride back to her place with her but once there refuses to leave when she declines to kiss him again or give him her number. He eventually rapes her.
Shae looks to both her mom and ex for comfort and is basically blown off. Lulu initially takes her to the police to report the rape. When the cops don’t seem to take Shae seriously Lulu suggests they exact justice. I’m sure you can see where this is going and anything more would be a spoiler.
This film was Thelma and Louise on steroids; part I Spit On Your Grave, part Single White Female. While I enjoyed the movie, it went in too many directions and was not sure what it wanted to be. It was that lack of direction that made it difficult to feel empathy — even toward Shae. I think the only character I actually felt sorry for was the cop Lulu shot in the dick with the barrel of the gun right up against his crotch simply because he intended to cheat on his wife with her (ED NOTE: I have never seen this movie, but I also feel sorry for him. And his penis). Cheating is definitely not grounds for murder, especially at the hand of the person you are cheating with. I wanted to feel sorry for Shae and I did at the moment she was raped but the path she chose was so illogical I eventually didn’t care about her any longer.
Other problems with this film include the fact that although six people are murdered over a four day span with a stolen police issued gun, you are never shown any cops investigating or anyone discovering the bodies. Perhaps the cops were too afraid of being shot in the dick with their own gun! Note to self: never let a wild eyed, Judy Greer lookalike (ED NOTE: You say that like it’s a bad thing!) handcuff you to a bed. Very bad idea. Let me be clear — I am not okay with rape, but the tone and direction this movie took removed the impact of Shae’s rape. One thing I absolutely thought the film got right was the attitude and motivation of the date rapist. I was bothered by the way the married ex was made out as the bad guy. If you are involved in a relationship with someone who is married, you both have culpability.
Overall, I enjoyed this schizophrenic film with a predictable ending. There was a decent amount of gore and a couple creepy death scenes. There was only one pair of naked boobs in the film and let’s just say she should have kept her top on. I liked it but I didn’t love it!
LITTLE MISS HORROR NERD’S RATING: 3 out 5
