Eroticide Review from Sinema Saliba!
I have been following the work of Canadian filmmaker Matthew Saliba since his directorial debut in 2003 with The Manipulator and the Subservient. His films have always been ripe with some sort of sexualized libertinism and his film from 2013, Eroticide shares the same company.
Eroticide follows the turbulent relationship of Yan (Jocelin Haas) and Elise (Stephanie van Rijn). One evening when out for dinner to celebrate nine months together, their evening is interrupted by when an ex-girlfriend, Kendra (Lisa Di Capa), from five-years-ago shows up and confronts the couple at their table. She mocks the duo from the onset. “Let me ask you a question. How often have you guys fucked?” Kendra asks, an evil grin growing on her face. There’s some embarrassed silence then she gratifyingly gloats, “I thought so. Then again I can’t blame you for not wanting to fuck that shriveled up burlap sack.” Things begin to escalate quickly so Yan and Elise leave, and return to their apartment.
Elise begins to argue about the restaurant ordeal, but after a short while the tension in the air dissipates when Yan attempts to apologize. “Fuck me.” Elise replies. The problem is, Yan has a hard time getting aroused, but makes the effort. In order for Yan to show up for the occasion he begins picturing their restaurant confrontation and fantasizes about Kendra completely humiliating him in front of Elise. This injects him with vigor, and he completes the deed, but this leaves Yan in tears in her arms.
The following morning a joyful Elise kisses Yan goodbye for work. Yan doesn’t seem to share the same sentiment, however. Once Elise is out of the apartment, Yan picks up his phone and texts his ex, “Can you please come over, Kendra?” She agrees, and Yan prepares for the erotic humiliation, by laying in waiting, naked on the floor. Will Elise and Yan’s relationship be ruined by his sexually charged whimsical decision?
According to Saliba, Eroticide is based on a two-year toxic relationship he had with Montreal filmmaker Maude Michaud that centered around erotic humiliation. So, this film seems very personal to Saliba. His first film mentioned above shares the same themes as Eroticide so it comes full circle now.
Yan, as a character hates himself, and enjoys shame. So much so that he jeopardizes his healthy relationship with Elise, and even worse. His thoughts of self-hatred and feeling unworthy of love, combined with his insatiable erotic urges to be humiliated come result in an unfortunate, permanent conclusion.
It was a pleasure to re-watch Eroticide after all these years making me realize that we need a new film from Matthew Saliba. Eroticide is available for free viewing on Saliba’s YouTube page (here) which boasts 9,125,638 views as of this writing. If that wasn’t enough, his other films are also available. So sometime soon, make it a Sinema Saliba night.
Directed by: Matthew Saliba
Written by: Matthew Saliba, Andrée-Anne Saliba
Produced by: Matthew Saliba, Kamel Khalifa
Cinematography by: Kamel Khalifa
Editing by: Nadia Khalifa
Special Effects by: Stéphanie Tremblay
Cast: Jocelin Haas, Stephanie van Rijn, Lisa Di Capa
Year: 2013
Country: Canada
Language: English, French (English Subtitles)
Color: Color
Runtime: 38m
Studio: Sinema Saliba
