Bound to Vengeance

Reminiscent of the exploitation films of the 1970's, Bound to Vengeance is a brutal revenge film that is both gritty and gut- wrenching.

A young girl, barely in her 20's, is chained and held captive in a derelict basement in the middle of nowhere. Making a harrowing escape, she ransacks the home she's been held prisoner in and discovers that other girls like her are experiencing a similar fate. Bound and determined for justice and retribution, she sets her sights on vindication by forcing her captor to reveal the locations of these women so they too can be saved, at any cost.

Independent horror films are a dime a dozen, or so the expression goes. You can get cheap creature flicks, poorly acted and ridiculous slasher films, and on the rare occasion you can get a brutal and original film that merits your attention.

Bound to Vengeance is an intense film unlike most, it is gruesome and refuses to look away at the horrifying reality of sex trafficking and sexual assault. The director Jose Manuel Cravioto does a commendable job at highlighting the trauma these women have suffered without ever actually showing the action of abuse. Through subtle hints, flash backs, and held close up shots on scenery, he conveys to the audience the startling reality these women have endured for an unspoken but long stretch of time. It is amazing what Cravioto does in creating terror and menace just through a held close-up shot of a closed door.

The dynamic between the two leads, Eve and her captor, Phil, is complex and mystifying. Tina Ivlev shines as the strong and determined woman who is willing to die in order to seek her vengeance. Richard Tyson plays a manipulative scumbag who, though bound, uses his words to try to wriggle out of his predicament. They are believable, primal, and scary. Realistically, they bring to life the actions of a predator and victim within the realms of human behavior. At no point does the film feel far reaching and taking too many liberties, and perhaps that is the scariest part.

There is a component of the film that weakens its effectiveness and presence, and that is the use of the camera footage of Eve with her boyfriend Ronnie. Yes, there is a purpose to it however there surely was an alternative way to convey this vital information without coping out through such a weak introduction. The use of this footage lessens the power and strength of the film overall, and comes across as a cheap answer to a film conundrum, like the exhausted technique of voiceovers.

Being thrown into the survival environment created by Bound to Vengeance as an audience member is heart racing and engaging. The film does not waste your time nor deliver cheap formulaic horror we have become accustomed to. It is not perfect, but it is eye opening, gritty, dark and 100% worth the watch.

7.5/10

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Ms. Ivlev really got into this part, as her acting seemed heartfelt. Her expression of pain and outrage was palpable. She seemed, like a real person not some prissy model, who needed her hair and make-up to be perfect in every scene. Mr. Tyson's work was also excellent. The direction, camera work and art direction were all excellent. The story line was generally good, although I did have to actively suspend disbelief over some details. However, the thrust of the action and Ms. Ivlev's powerful acting, made that easier to do. The use of flash-backs was very well done. This was a surprisingly good production for such a hackneyed subject.

I first saw this in 2015 on a dvd which I own.

Revisited it recently.

The plot in short n without any spoilers - Eve, a young girl held captive, manages to beat her kidnapper Phil and successfully unlocks the chain holding her leg and uses it to chain Phil's leg.

Later she discovers a revolver and a folder containing photos of some girls, along with their names (even her own photo). She quickly learns that she's not the only victim of Phil.

She holds the revolver at Phil, asking him where the other girls are. He dares her to kill him, telling her that he's the only one that knows their whereabouts.

This one is a good thriller which engages the viewer from the beginning.

It has some plot holes.

It gets bloody n violent at times but thankfully there are no onscreen rape scenes.

The flashbacks are a bit annoying but it all adds up in the end.

Some flaws: Eve is an expert in making snares without any prior teachings.

Eve is a master in loading guns.

How Eve never runs outta bullets is beyond me.

Eve is fast in taking decisions inspite of being traumatized.

Really well acted revenge thriller. Well worn territory but a good one none the less. Recommended for a select audience and the direction is also top-notch. Superior to many other examples of the 'Revenge Chiller' genre and the leading lady gives a solid acting performance.

Bound To Vengeance: Eve (Tina Ivlev) is held as a slave in a basement but manages to overpower and chain her captor, Phil (Richard Tyson). Upstairs she discovers photos of other chained. She forces Phil to bring her to where the girls are held. But things take a decidedly bizarre turn as the captive girls act in strange ways when set free. Eve also has flashbacks of her time in captivity and what happened before that but not of her actual abduction.

A dark film in several senses as much of the action takes place in cellars at night or in dark rooms. Nothing is simple as betrayals emerge and Phil attempts to play mind games with Eve. Violent but much of that savagery is inflicted on slave masters. A complicated tale of vengeance, not for the squeamish or faint hearted. 7/10.