A Seductive and Provocative Thriller: Balance Between Passion, Control and Power.
Bound (2015) is an erotic thriller that captures the attention of its audience by expertly weaving themes like self exploration, power play, and fetishes in an unconventional manner. Directed by Jared Cohn and produced by The Asylum, the studio well known for its b-grade cinema, Bound arguably attempts to capture the attractiveness of Fifty Shades of Grey – that is, it does so much with unabashed, pulp fiction violence. Bound is also campy, vulgar, and essay accidentally hilarious which makes it fascinating for quite a bunch of viewers who claim to hate love films but really, do not.
Summary
Michelle Mulan, an aging executive realtor, remained quite stagnant until she met a younger Ryan Black who first introduced her to the world of BDSM. Her life goes from flirty and warm to cold and calm as she shifts from a controlled life to a manipulative society that has their problems masked.
While Michelle finds herself deeper into Ryan’s dominating world where ‘fun’ and ‘abuse’, ‘sub missive’ and ‘powerful’ are two forces fighting to co-exist, the film tries its best to keep some focus on the psychological aspect while shamelessly hawking it as a mixture of suspense, drama, and the addictive suspense.
While attempting to be multifaceted, the film is fully laced with subversion, mystery, violence, romance and clear-cut emotional theatrics.
Awards & Wins
Bound was too mundane to win any awards—neither major, nor even minor ones; in an odd peculiar way, she charm. Bound is a low-budget, straight to video style production that aims to tickle audiences rather than impress critics.
Despite being a low budget production, it managed to garner a minuscule amount of audience among binge watchers of B-movie thrillers and any that were open to indulging in anything that was loosely called kink.
Cast & Crew
Director: Jared Cohn
Production: The Asylum
Key Cast:
Charisma Carpenter as Michelle Mulan
Bryce Draper as Ryan Black
Daniel Baldwin as Walter
The B-list movie is anchored by the ever charismatic Charisma carpenter who plays the starring role and is herself a devotee of the series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” along with “Angel”. Carpenter single handedly carries the movie with her surprising gritty performance that invigorates the movie beyond the possibilities it was gifted with. Bryce Draper does a half-hearted impersonation of the ‘Christian Grey’ but with way darker undertones. Daniel Baldwin and all of his weathered veteran glory adds the much needed grit to the movie.
IMDb Ratings
Bound holds a modest score of 3.5/10 on IMDb. It is hardly shocking for a film that doesn’t take itself too seriously and isn’t afraid to classify itself as disgusting pulp fantasy. While many notoriously criticize the movie on unrealistic cliches and predict things, others adore the fact that it is exactly what it sets out to be: an erotic action movie with some cheeky cringe.
Self Reflection
If you want the high-brow sort of drama, try a different show. However, if you’re looking for a screaming erotic thriller filled with whispering seduction and casualness to crossing ethical boundaries,Then Bound is a movie you might want to overindulge in.
It attempts to integrate female empowerment and submission and fails, which is, at best, very confusing. It is most enjoyable when watched with friends and a funny bone along with some good eyebrows, rising music, and dramatic lines.
Historical Importance
Bound is not a classic in film but does depict a period after fifty shades when Hollywood and Indie studios were attempting to exploit the polyurethane fashionista BDSM fetish. While lightly skirting with the topic of sexual freedom, it does not bother to incorporate any nuance.
Bound is one of the many Western movies made in the 2010s which blended erotic and thriller with sex, danger, drama, and power dynamics acting in slow motion. It has its out-of-control moments, but it still entertaining in that almost astonishing late-night cable kind of way.
