Perverted Desire Short Film Review!
Directed by: Juval Marlon
Written by: Juval Marlon
Produced by: Juval Marlon
Cinematography by: Juval Marlon
Editing by: Juval Marlon
Music by: Juval Marlon
Cast: Thomas Goersch, Ulrike Röder
Year: 2020
Country: Germany
Language: None
Color: Color
Runtime: 10min
Long term Severed Cinema regular, Juval Marlon can be seen as a very challenging chap. Sometimes revolting, most of the times a man happy sticking his finger into the face of conventional underground films. Most of his works, however graphic in the contents actually have a rather mean but classy sense of humour running through them. He’s raised his game recently by shooting his first full length feature, Sturmgewehr (read review here) with the ‘how many bloody films has he actually done??’ Thomas Goersch in a cameo role.
Calling back the services of Germany’s hardest working man, Thomas Goersch, Juval unleashes an altogether different creation. Mellowed down, however still carrying his trademarks such as a giggle and a dead animal.
Opening to ‘The Perversion’, played by Thomas, walking through the rain, and then inter-cut by the obligatory dead creature shot, this time it’s a bird, and he strolls the town, smiling at a funfair, touching fluffy toys. Back home, he cuddles in bed with a bigger fluffy toy. This seems to be the first sign of his perversion, we gather. More scenes of him doing what he does, then he’s at home and is visited by The Desire, played by newcomer, Ulrike Röder. Glasses of wine on the couch, and smiles, he looks a bit nervous, but you just know she’s gonna jump his bones very soon.
As she removes her top, then tackles his pants, The Perversion really seems more and more unsure of himself. He backs off, looking bewildered. Not a duo to give in, they retreat to the bedroom where he manages to look more enthusiastic. However just before he is about to make the ol’ beast with two backs, he needs to get something from the other room. Suddenly the violence explodes…
Perverted Desire is a stylish departure for Juval. As I said, it’s more laid back, and I particularity like the music that is consistent throughout. It feels as if he’s testing the waters to see what his mob of gore hungry fans will consume. This isn’t a crimson violent blood fest — this is a neat little ten minute flick which is very dark around the edges. Returning to the score, from the organ to the tingly piano, Juval has given his short film a brilliant meaty substance and makes even the most standard of daily scenes seem menacing.
The pacing is good, everything runs nice and steady, and of course Juval chucks the world at the viewer in the final moments. The question is, how will his fanbase see this transformation? He has a lot of talent and a great eye for details which has been proven time and time again in his past.
Perverted Desire will divide his viewers. I found his change, yet once checked over a second time, isn’t that far away from his other mini monsters. It is, I guess, a brilliant teaser for what I hope will be more projects along a similar vein.
