Rub

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.

Just saw this on Tubi! Rub delivers a gripping blend of passion and peril, reminiscent "True Romance." This indie gem captivates its raw evocative storytelling. The chemistry between the leads sizzles, elevating the high-stakes narrative of love and danger. Stunning cinematography and a haunting soundtrack immerse viewers in a world where every glance and touch carries weight. A must-watch for fans of the genre, Rub proves that indie filmmaking still has the power to enthrall and excite. What sets "Rub" apart from many other films in the genre is its raw authenticity. There's a grittiness to the film that makes it feel real and immediate. This isn't a sanitized, Hollywood-ized version of love and danger; it's messy, chaotic, and intense, reflecting the true complexity of human relationships and the precariousness of life on the edge. This authenticity is likely a result of the film's indie roots, which often allow for more creative freedom and a stronger personal vision from the filmmakers.

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.

Neal, who is lonely and has no love life, goes to a brothel run by in the name of a massage parlor on the suggestion of his office colleague and meets Perla there and changes Neal's life completely in a single night.

Neal and Perla gets a second chance in life to live the life that they wanted but get's stuck and encounters with problems and people beacuse of the damage they done to survive their past.

Movie deals with Work-Life Balance, Bullying at Work, Social Life and Sex trafficking in a very simple and subtle way.

It's a good movie and you should give it a watch if you like small indie crime dramas.