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Sun Choke

  • 20152015
  • TV-MATV-MA
  • 1h 23m
IMDb RATING
5.5/10
1.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Sarah Hagan in Sun Choke (2015)
Trailer for Sun Choke
Play trailer1:41
3 Videos
40 Photos
  • Drama
  • Horror
  • Mystery

Janie's just trying to get well.Janie's just trying to get well.Janie's just trying to get well.

IMDb RATING
5.5/10
1.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Ben Cresciman
  • Writer
    • Ben Cresciman
  • Stars
    • Sarah Hagan
    • Sara Malakul Lane
    • Barbara Crampton
Top credits
  • Director
    • Ben Cresciman
  • Writer
    • Ben Cresciman
  • Stars
    • Sarah Hagan
    • Sara Malakul Lane
    • Barbara Crampton
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 18User reviews
    • 43Critic reviews
    • 58Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins

    Videos3

    Sun Choke
    Trailer 1:41
    Sun Choke
    SUN CHOKE Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:41
    SUN CHOKE Official Trailer
    'Sun Choke': Pool
    Clip 1:16
    'Sun Choke': Pool

    Photos40

    Sarah Hagan in Sun Choke (2015)
    Sarah Hagan and William Nicol in Sun Choke (2015)
    Sun Choke (2015)
    Sun Choke (2015)
    Sun Choke (2015)
    Sun Choke (2015)
    Sun Choke (2015)
    Sun Choke (2015)
    Sun Choke (2015)
    Sun Choke (2015)
    Sun Choke (2015)
    Sun Choke (2015)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Sarah Hagan
    Sarah Hagan
    • Janieas Janie
    Sara Malakul Lane
    Sara Malakul Lane
    • Savannahas Savannah
    Barbara Crampton
    Barbara Crampton
    • Irmaas Irma
    William Nicol
    William Nicol
    • Boyfriendas Boyfriend
    Evan Jones
    Evan Jones
    • Attackeras Attacker
    Joe Nieves
    Joe Nieves
    • Officer Olsonas Officer Olson
    Jim Boeven
    Jim Boeven
    • Janie's Dadas Janie's Dad
    Christina Amber
    • Janieas Janie…
    Diana Nguyen
    • Paramedicas Paramedic
    Derek Bevil
    • Paramedicas Paramedic
    Annie Read
    Annie Read
    • Savannah's Friendas Savannah's Friend
    Riley Litman
    Riley Litman
    • Connoras Connor
    • (uncredited)
    Mary Nieves
    Mary Nieves
    • Woman in the Parkas Woman in the Park
    • (uncredited)
    Daisy O'Dell
    Daisy O'Dell
    • Dream Motheras Dream Mother
    • (uncredited)
    Don Oscar Smith
    • Garyas Gary
    • (uncredited)
    • …
    • Director
      • Ben Cresciman
    • Writer
      • Ben Cresciman
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    As she recovers from a recent violent psychotic break, Janie is subjected each day to a bizarre holistic health and wellness regimen designed, and enforced, by her lifelong nanny and caretaker, Irma. When her mother died, Irma promised her father to care for Janie during her life. Janie begins to veer off the road to recovery when she develops an obsession with a young woman, Savannah, that she feels an inexplicable yet profound connection to. The obsession turns increasingly invasive, and wedges all three women into an ever-tightening, and terrifying struggle for control. Will she pull herself back from the precipice of insanity? Or will she go over head-first, taking anyone nearby down with her? —Lodger Films
    • shaved labia
    • murderess
    • sex scene
    • sexy
    • insanity
    • 34 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Horror
      • Mystery
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • TV-MA
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Sara Malakul Lane said she did a lot of stuff pretty much for real during filming. "I had a lot of cuts on my wrists from one scene and I genuinely was gagging for another scene because you are really in it and I think it's important just to go all out. The audience will really get the experience if you are really feeling it. There was no safety or anything, we just kind of went for it. After the third or fourth take it becomes really tiring on the body and you think, 'Oh shit, what did I get myself into?'" But Lane said the most uncomfortable scene was the sex one with William Nicol. "Usually when you're doing these sex scenes or rape scenes, there's 6 or 7 crew members in the room. With this scene because they were filming it through the window, it was just me and the other actor in the room doing a sex scene essentially. That was uncomfortable."

    User reviews18

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Visually stunning art house chiller
    Directed by Ben Cresciman,Sun Choke begins by introducing the viewer into the life of Janie (Sarah Hagan). Janie is recovering from a violent psychotic breakdown. Each day, her lifelong nanny, Irma (Barbara Crampton), subjects Janie to a bizarre holistic health regime. Eventually, Irma, who is in contact with Janie's absent father, considers Janie well enough to leave the house. This first excursion onto the streets of LA results in Janie beginning an obsession with Savanna (Sara Malakul Lane). As this obsession progresses, deepens and Janie finally connects with Savanna, the mental calmness and control brought about by the strict, holistic regime is undone.

    However, this is just the bare bones of a film that is arguably open to interpretation. For instance, although the time-frame of Sun Choke appears to be linear, I wonder if this is the case. The viewers are shown what appear to be flashbacks, or memories, but these are shown in a haphazard fashion, often with little or no sound. Muted shots of Janie's father illuminated by bright sunlight appear, as do darkly lit scenes of a distressed, apparently psychotic, Janie. Once she begins to leave the home, Janie's apparent inability to feel empathy for other human beings, and her resentment at the strict brutality of the regime she's subjected to, begin to surface. Yet, I personally feel that the route to unravelling the time-line and story of Sun Choke lie in two factors that were mentioned, but not dwelt upon, during the course of the film.

    Firstly there is the absent father. The authoritative figure in Sun Choke is Irma and it is her regime which dominates and structures Janie's home environment. There is also the question of what the relationship was between Janie's mother and Irma the nanny, also how this influences the relationship between Irma and Janie. Then, when Janie's obsession with Savanna arises, so does the question of nature over nurture. But, this is just my thoughts on a film which is layered, and definitely more complex, than the bare narrative bones suggest.

    Cinematically Sun Choke is a triumph on a big screen. The manner in which light is used throughout, results in some beautiful shots that linger in the mind. Editing is slick and efficient meaning that, despite the sudden flashbacks and apparent memory recalls, the flow of the film isn't disrupted. Somehow, the combination of lighting, beautifully staged sets and Irma's calm voice, seduces the viewer into accepting her role as carer, into accepting the simple, almost unstructured, story that is there for viewing with immediacy.

    There was one scene where I felt the director should have held back, as what the viewer is exposed to serves to detract from the impact of the film's final section. I personally felt the scene could have ended slightly earlier, as the viewer knows what is about to happen. I wonder if here the director was trying to appeal to a bigger market than a psychological drama alone would engage. There is a manner of horror in Sun Choke, but it's insidious and deserves to remain so. From my point of view, the scene in question spoilt the ambiance of the film – it was out of kilter.

    Sarah Hagan's performance as Janie is superb. She gives a very powerful depiction of a person totally unable to relate normally with other human beings. Even so, Janie isn't a character you can completely turn away from. I found I had some level of understanding for her frustration at being subjugated by the regime she was subjected to. Savanna is the perfect foil to measure Janie against. Sara Malakul Lane does well in this role. She underplays the character which serves to emphasise her normality. But by far the most chilling performance is that given by Barbara Crampton. Her interpretation of Irma is well judged and effective.

    Sun Choke is arguably an Art House film. It is low budget, visually stunning to watch, and contains aspects of social realism. The lack of clarity in the narrative structure will be an issue for some, as there is no clear beginning, middle or end. The audience is presented with a form of cause and effect visualised as actions and consequences. Also, it is for the viewer to determine a pathway through the visual imagery Sun Choke presents, also to unravel the motives contained within the actions of its key players. A film of this nature will either engage you, or it will not. There is no room for middle ground here.
    helpful•27
    8
    • susanby
    • Sep 9, 2015

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 5, 2016 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Удушье
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Lodger Films
      • Easy Open Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 23 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.40:1

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