Rub

Slow burn! I haven't seen a film like this in a long time. Reminds me of 70s films I watched in film school. Gritty, dirty with sprinkles of dark humor.

I knew guys like Neal growing up and a certain scene brought back some memories. I really like the film but the ending caught me off guard. I get why they went that route but I would have liked to see something else hashed out

The performances were great & the score was intense!!

Big studios don't make films like this, hence the success of Sound of Freedom ( Not saying RUB is that ) But we need new storytellers in film and I was happy to watch this after a friend told me about seeing it last week. Bravo. I enjoyed it.

I noticed the filming locations of Peekskill and Brewster, NY and since I live close to both towns, I watched this film and I recgognized some places, including a motel which is listed in the end credits(Heidi's Inn).

Micah Spayer is Neal, a nerd who is mocked by his co-workers for is lack of success with women. One of them gives him a business card for a massage parlor.

Jennifer Figuereo is Perla, a sexy young woman who relieves Neal's stress with a body rub with a happy ending. He becomes a regular and after a robbery, the happy couple go on the run from some bad guys with evil intentions.

The actors have good chemistry and the conclusion is fairly realistic. A decent way to kill an hour and forty-five minutes.

I've never found it so difficult to review a movie without spoiling it.

The easy stuff - it is incredibly well written, well shot, and well produced for a film with this budget. The score was pretty much perfect, and the sound design/recording was an enviable 98% awesome, just because there were 2 or 3 very short scenes where the voice mixing/acoustics didn't seem quite right.

The 2 main characters are brilliantly and convincingly acted, most of the rest of the cast is very good too - again, with only a couple of exceptions that were still OK, but not as good as the rest.

The story.... From a few minutes in it kept me riveted, right up to the end. But there was a moment when the characters suddenly seemed to not be themselves. You'll know it when you see it, and although it is entirely deliberate I think it is this moment that will polarize your thoughts of the film.

I'm honestly still not sure if I actually liked this film... But I am sure that it was a very good film. Well written, well made, well performed, surprising, funny, dark, odd and yet relatable.

To everyone involved in "Rub" - Well done.

First- Parents, this movie isn't for kids, there are adult situations so take that as a warning. Second-Every work of art should be judged based on the artist's intent and as a result I give this movie a top rating of ten stars out of ten stars. It's an independent film that knows its audience. Christopher Fox gives it a "kitchen sink" approach similar to early indie auteur projects from linklater or the Terry Gilliam. The story was pretty good, it plays like a crazy drama, of course, but there's a lot of thrills and emotional performances. Especially with the main character who even alters his appearance on camera halfway through the movie!!! I was very anxious on how it would end.

This movie took turns o could not have foreseen, so while the plot was engaging, I became less empathetic to the character Neal. He is a flawed, narcissistic, self- absorbed person. The more developed his character is clarified, the less I liked Neal. And this is the crux and result of the twists and turns in the plotline. Watch the ending! Neal is not the person you think he is. And that's too bad. I wanted to be empathetic to him. But he makes that impossible when you see the decisions he makes, and the impact he has on Perla's life. He does not take responsibility for his actions. I did not expect that.