 | MOVIE DETAILS • Name: Porno • Year: 2019 • Country: USA • Director: Keola Racela • Main cast: Evan Daves, Jillian Mueller, Katelyn Pearce • Runtime: 98 minutes • Production company: Evoke • trailer not available yet |
Horror movies are that cinematographic place where pretty much anything can happen. That includes good things, bad things and, why not, neutral things. To do a cheap and effective horror film it is as easy as how good your idea is. And when the idea is as deep as some childish joke, the final result can also be reflected in those terms. And pretty much that is what is to find in Porno (2019).
The movie centers a group of sexually repressed youngsters that take care of the movie theater where they work. For a night, they are allowed by their god-fearing pusillanimous manager to use the theater to screen the movie they prefer, only for their eyes. But everything goes awry when they discover a secret room full of old films where a sex demon gets summoned. The theater’s porno past surfaces and the kids must try to save themselves from the evil taking over the place and from their own dirtiest secrets. Which, let’s be honest, they are not that dirty at all.
It is clear that the intention of the movie is to parody the behaviors of a big portion of the young conservative middle-class North America. A situation that is becoming a serious problem in a country that has lost their way especially in the latest years since they put that illiterate hooligan on White House. And when society pays more attention to the mind-controlling propaganda than to use their brains, logic and wisdom, characters like the stars of this movie can become true. And reality is more dangerous than the supernatural, my friends.
In any case, Porno (2019) feels too hollow in all the senses. The characters’ personalities are nothing but the same old cliches, which is not a bad thing in a movie that aims to expose the brainless society members. But as an entertainment piece it just doesn’t work, it needs more. And same with the situations occurring along the running time. The movie is very predictable, although that doesn’t mean it is dull. It can be enjoyable if one doesn’t have too high expectations and only wants to spend a placid hour and half.
Porno (2019) is the debut feature film of Keola Racela, a director that has already stepped in the world of the pictures business but that will have to do a better job to maintain in such a competitive circuit. It was part of the Midnight X-Treme program at the Sitges Film Festival 2019, where I had the opportunity to attend the screening. I don’t know about “midnight”, but I can ensure it is not “extreme” at all. Still, it is one of those titles that have their place in marathon screenings in genre film festivals like Sitges. I can’t say I would recommend you go for this film, but if you find yourself in front of it maybe you can enjoy it a little. Still, don’t expect much, because, despite its supposed-to-be wild plotline, Porno (2019) won’t deliver much more than being another film to add to your watched list. Mildly entertaining while it lasts, totally forgettable once it has ended.
RATE: 5/10
IMDB URL: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt8485772
