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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91. What is this crazy film?! Is that the girl from that "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" tv show that used to be on.. She looks sooo scared. Oh wait, she's like in that GRUDGE movie too, right?? Look soo messed upside and down!!! I know it would scare me from gettin it in with some man I don't know, but i wouldnt do that anyway. you have to watch it, espaecially where I live here in Ladera Heights. You just keep your eyes open girl!!

Posted at 2:41PM on Oct 7th 2006 by Lawanda Jenkins

92. WOW#!#!

WOW!#!#

WOW!#!3!

Man oh man, oh man, oh man!!! Soooo bizarre and screwed up!!!!

Even for me and I love these kinds of movies!!!!

When does it come out?? -Q

Posted at 2:41PM on Oct 7th 2006 by Quibble T

93. Sometimes that's just the way it goes, lady. You can protect yourself only so far in this world - and the next. "Where's your Jesus now!!!!"

Posted at 2:43PM on Oct 7th 2006 by Death Becomes Her

94. If I Were Tom Cruise, I'd look into doing a movie like CHAOS. God knows that he's crazy enough for it and it might do him some therapeutic good to kill a few people with his bare ahnds on film (sorry hitman doing head twists and shooting with a pistol don't cut it, even though we love in Collateral, Tommy). Then he can actaully walk away from it and just defend the art of the film insetad of his crazy self.

Tom , if you are out there, let e'm know that CHAOS will save lives!! If you do a film like this, MILLIONS OF EPOPLE WILL KNOW THAT FILMS LIKE THIS CAN SAVE LIVES!!

Posted at 2:56PM on Oct 7th 2006 by If I Were Tom Cruise

95. Wow that Bernheim guy is an utter jerkus!!! Does he really think this do anyone any good/ Why didn't they say call it CHAOS - It'll Save Your Life, instead of CHAOS -The Most Brutal Movie Ever made ??? That is what I am talking about!


Free and Clear

Posted at 3:31PM on Oct 7th 2006 by Free and Clear

96. I think that the medical practicioner, Loretta, has an interesting point about all of this, that it could be used to scare young kids away from endangering themselves. It may have to come to this and I consider myself a simple and peaceful person. This might have better value than epople here think.

Posted at 3:16PM on Oct 7th 2006 by Gwen

97. Good luck!!


Looks great. I think it'll do some good!


Keep it comin'!


-Your Pal, Hal

Posted at 3:16PM on Oct 7th 2006 by Hal

98. You think this is new news!?! The Italians have been doing this for years, even before CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST. Then again, it is good to get to American audiences... this film. OK, let us see what you got and see if you can save some lives or scare the people!

Posted at 3:23PM on Oct 7th 2006 by Cinzani

99. Wonder if they knew this would make all of these people so angry when they made this film. Had to right?? Hah ha ah ah!! Save lives my ass!!! But hey, got my attention, didn't it?!!!

Posted at 3:30PM on Oct 7th 2006 by Wislon

100. Hey did someone say you could actaully get this online or something.?Are they sick?? Like blockbuster.com or some place?? I can't believe it!!! WTF!!!

Posted at 3:30PM on Oct 7th 2006 by Really??

101. The movie could make that old watch-out-children message, but it would need more effort than just a movie with a plot and some blood. "M" made that blatant message about seventy years ago, and I'd wager that things have gotten worse since. A filmmaker, in order to make this statement for these times, needs to go to the root of American culture, into the core of the American middle-class and define what is the American aristocracy and what are its current principles. (ie-- how does Paris Hilton define the way Americans think across the economic strata?) Nobody does that, and it's because most people who make films or write articles grew up in sheltered middle-class homes and are incapable of thinking outside their bubble. Or, they are just lazy and want to write or make movies because it's better for their ego than to have a real job... like electrician.
The potential for saving teen girls' lives is in a movie like Chaos, but the philosophy is absent. But that's a common problem in most movies, regardless.

Posted at 9:23PM on Oct 7th 2006 by Lot

102. Yeah I see what that guy was saying. Berheim, you need to re-title your movie if you expect us to beileve that it'll help people. Don't you think so? Or something else right. Maybe the movie is even good! I don't know...

Posted at 3:38PM on Oct 7th 2006 by Ralph Waxman

103. Yeah what he said. Retitle the movie!!! If you expect us to believe that. Or just keep it CHAOS or something...

Posted at 3:38PM on Oct 7th 2006 by Lars

104. Iff Holloway saw Chaos before she went to Aruba, would she have made the deciisions she made? Probably. If she watched it WITH the individuals who may/or may not have turned out to be her eventual murderers. Probably not.

Posted at 4:15PM on Oct 7th 2006 by BallGag

105. If the US government can coerce the majority of its citizens to smile while it continues to erode their civil liberties using a campaign of fear, then the producers of CHAOS can certainly promote their DVD while doing the same. I actually saw the film, a would find it too disturbing to show to a teenage girl in good conscience, now matter how I couched its usefulness.

Posted at 4:22PM on Oct 7th 2006 by ripstop

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