Clarity in "Chaos"?

Chaos: Click to watchCould a horror movie have saved Natalee Holloway's life?
The creators of the brutal film "Chaos" make the bold statement that yes, their film could have. Though "Chaos" is not inspired by Holloway's disappearance, the movie is being promoted as an unsettling warning to young women and their parents -- and that stance is causing some controversy.

"The movie is so terrifying and horrific to a young girl, we don't think any young girls who see the movie would leave a bar with two strangers," says producer Steven Jay Bernheim. The movie follows two young women who venture to a rave in the woods. They leave the party with a drug dealer to score some ecstasy, and quickly become the pawns in a psychotic gang's sick game. The two suffer through torture, rape and murder and, as some reviews have noted, not in that particular order.



Taking a grisly movie and positioning it as a cautionary tale was definitely a risky gamble, but the filmmakers believe the violence was a necessary evil, saying not enough is learned from cable or network news alone. "The cable shows show the beginning and they show the end. They show nice pictures of Natalee Holloway as a cheerleader and then they show suspects being arrested," says Bernheim, "We show the middle part, the horror and torture in-between that victims really go through." To them, the excessive violence is how to leave an impression.

Director/writer David DeFalco is ready to defend his baby as well, telling TMZ, "People give us slack that that's just our excuse for making a sick movie, but I don't see how anyone can deny that it's gonna affect you ... [it] may actually teach you something about real evil."

Though horror movies are typically aimed towards a young male demographic, Bernheim and DeFalco hope the media attention will make a few more parents pick up "Chaos," which just landed on DVD this week.

Tags: Chaos, David DeFalco, DavidDefalco, Steven Jay Bernheim, StevenJayBernheim

Reader Comments

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61. I'm not sure about the "scared straight" school of thought but I do know that this a fantasic little movie, with great acting, especially by Stephen Wozniak. I look forward to seeing more from these guys soon!!!

Posted at 4:46PM on Oct 6th 2006 by Jean-Pierre Parent

62. I’m glad that films like this get made. You people should wake up and smell the reality. Stuff like this happens all the time and nobody seems willing to show it. This movie does. Even if you heard about it on the news, you need to see it to get it.

Posted at 4:55PM on Oct 6th 2006 by B. Dern

63. Hey if this movie can save one life, I'm all for it.

Posted at 4:52PM on Oct 6th 2006 by Marcus

64. Yes, I think a movie like this could save lives. Why not? Why is everyone here so cynical about accepting this movie? Maybe it isn't huge hollywood fare, but it may very well have a message. It might also have pure shock value too. A great deal of film and art has both. Always has. They are not mutually exclusive. Understand this and you'll get a great deal out of it and more in life.

Posted at 4:55PM on Oct 6th 2006 by Francis Ghettier

65. Sure I think it was one of the most brutal movies ever made. I think of course there is an underlying message for young girls to be careful. Sometime the search for fun, drugs, boys can get young girls into a lot of trouble. But compare this to a regular slasher movie where there is no story, brutal slashings, shish-kabobings and beheadings and what's the difference. It's Hollywood -special effects and suspence can make a movie appealing. Yes, I covered my eyes at parts, but I do the same thing on a rollarcoaster, meanwhile screaming and yelling and wanting it to end soon, but then I buy another ticket and take the ride again. It's a movie, nicely shot, nicely acted with great effects and locations. Just because there was brutality, doesn't mean that it's any more "sick" "twisted" or "demented" then an other thriller or slasher movie out there. This movie should not be compared to a slasher flick. This is a movie with an actual plot line and you really care about the characters. Kudos to the filmmakers for not giving this another "Yawn" Hollywood ending. Did you jokers go see "The Black Dalia?" Another murder never solved- but it sure made a great date night, didn't it? I'll bet you held on to your dates arm real tight while hiding your eyes on his shoulders, then probably went home and played naughty games afterward. Its life people. People get killed and then people make movies about it. You ain't gonna stop that!

Posted at 5:54PM on Oct 6th 2006 by Michelle Tolan

66. Demon Dave

Due the remarks you've made about Roger Ebert I'm going to assume you are not David DeFalco or you would know a great deal more about the interaction that went on between them regarding this film. Or somehow I know more about you than you do??? So let's just say you’re playing the devil's advocate, I'll bite.

One thing that really bother's me is the way his publicity campaign exploit Natalee Holloway tragedy for sensationalism purposes. He's sending out a totally unrealistic message by claming by that seeing this flim will somehow save young girls from being a victims. Tell me it's B flasher flick, I'll buy that, hell unfortunately I've even paid to see it, but don't tell me some false prophecy that this film will somehow save lives. I've seen it remember? I've seen it.

Secondly the acting is so bad it makes the stereotype characters completely unreal to the point that you feel no sympathy for them at all, which he is claiming is "now" one of the reason for this film. The direction is non existent. Some of the camera shots make you sick, because they're all over the place, it's called motion sickness. Some of the reasons I was laughing my ass off "Dave".

Don't get me wrong I love a good slasher film one of those guilty pleasure some of us have, but this one is no different than the others. It's gory I'll give you that, but it's hardly a film from which one will or should learn a lessons. Why not tell everyone to see it for the gory, overly violent, yet unabashed bad taste adventure that it is? Maybe he’d get some sort of cult following. Nothing wrong with that. But shame on him for touting this a warning to young women.

Last thing, if you want to pretend to be Dave I have a couple of questions if you’d be so kind to respond.

Why don't you explain the merits of the rape by knife scene?

Also if you are the director how can you say you did not play the end of that movie for laughs?

Please feel free to point me to other positive reviews from reputable sources. You don’t have to lists lots of them let's say 4 or 5 and please make sure I can verify the source on my own. I'm funny that way.

Have fun, see it to find out how gross some slasher films can be, but not as a warning film from which you want anyone to learn a lesson.

Posted at 6:06PM on Oct 6th 2006 by badisbad

67. To BadisBad
Get over the whole "Last House on the Left" kick. Many have not seen that film. For what Chaos is ...it was entertaining! Most movies are deviations of something that has already been done. Many follow the same blueprint as others. Point is if entertains you then that's what counts.

Posted at 6:43PM on Oct 6th 2006 by GottaLuvIt!

68. This is one of the most powerful movies I've seen. If this were shown in high schools across the country, the kids would watch it and, no matter what they say, they would think long and hard before putting themselves in a similar position. As times change, so does the entertainment media. This is cutting-edge, and it really pushes the envelope, but it makes its point in a powerful, effective way. Excellent. Truly excellent.

Posted at 10:30PM on Oct 6th 2006 by Terri

69. As graphic and sensentionalized as this movie sounds, I still want to go see it and I want to bring my teenage daughter with me.

Posted at 12:08AM on Oct 7th 2006 by Jesse

70. I remeber the Natalee Holloway incident. Yo, man that was messed up all the way around!! And nobody even found that girl, right?? You wonder if something like CHAOS would scare the hell out of a girl like that who thinks she can get through just messing around with strange men on an island. No ladies deserve any of that, but they got to pay attention, you know? Yo, I would take my girl to see this just so she doesn't do an stupid crap like that. I want her around you know?

Posted at 11:25PM on Oct 6th 2006 by H. Cansalo

71. Wow, I thought this was modern America with people who are smart enough to get that it is only a movie. I get freaked out by movies and tv and things like that but real life is much more scary. At least you can walk away from a movie. This movie actually looks kind of interesting, so I probably wouldn't walk away. Get a grip you puritan fools. Take a look at the big picture of it all!!!

Posted at 11:25PM on Oct 6th 2006 by Jimmy Sparks

72. kudos to you - loved it.

laughed my ass off!!!!!

Posted at 11:13PM on Oct 6th 2006 by JACK LARUE

73. There is something unsual about CHAOS. Maybe it is just the time of year or something. I don't know. Just the imagery scares me. That should be enough to keep me aware of the reality that this movie depicts. I don't know if I'll see it, but this discussion makes me think maybe people are looking out. Thank god!

Posted at 11:24PM on Oct 6th 2006 by Helen P.

74. hey badisbad (#60), it really is me although funny you should mention it, there is a guy impersonating me on myspace.com. (didn't know I was that famous)

We actually got two great reviews today on the following websites: www.lastsite.org and cinemaeulogies.com. There are tons of reviews on various different websites (you can find them all doing a search), many of them are good and some are bad. I really don't count those reviews with the same weight of ones by Ebert and the likes. Also keep in mind that if this really is the "most brutal film ever made" than even many of the bad reviews are technically good and appropriate. For example, the Chicago Tribune wrote "almost turned my stomach" and "wouldn't wish the movie on their worst enemy". A bad review? For a normal movie, yes. But, great for the most brutal movie ever made.

The following are some of the best major reviews we received that we used quotes from on the DVD box:

"I can not ignore it, nor can I deny that it affected me strongly...the movie works"-Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun Times

"slick production values...consider barf bags"-Daily Variety

"scary...brutal...does something no modern horror film has accomplished since THE EXORCIST." -Dan Gire, Chicago Daily Herald

"...a well crafted horror film. CHAOS is the worst nightmare you have ever had"-Capone, Ain't It Cool News

"Extremely effective...distrurbing" - Film Threat

"Convincingly acted...well shot"- TV Guide

There are more but I think you get the point. I actually agree with you about the Natalee Holloway angle and touting the movie as an educational piece. That was not my idea, it was the producer's. I did exactly what I wanted to do, make the most brutal horror movie ever. Although, I would not use the educational angle for publicity, I do believe someone could definitely learn something from it about the nature or real evil which in turn could save their life.

The two graphic murders in the movie were taken from a real life serial killer named Donald "Pee Wee" Gaskins. I wanted to try to recreate two of the most brutal real life murders I could find in the most realistic way possible, believing that would get people's attention. Maybe I was right?

To answer your question about the ending. I am from the east coast and have been in many street fights that have ended in stabbings or shootings. And believe me, CHAOS is more realisitic than most action or horror movies where street action or violence is totally exaggerated. Most fights and shootings are over in seconds, even where there are multiple people involved. So, as funny as it may appear to you, it is closer to how real violence looks.

I hope that answers some of your questions and thanks for not calling me a "dumb ex-wrestler" again.

Posted at 11:12PM on Oct 6th 2006 by Demon Dave

75. Really!!!! It is just a fu@&in' movie you idiots!!! It is supposed to scare the living sh*t out of you!!! That's what they are there for!!!! I hope I see you gore naysayers in the real world so I can show you what it is like in real life instead of your tired and limp imaginations!!!

Posted at 11:23PM on Oct 6th 2006 by The Jammer Slammer

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