Compulsion

Plot

A woman vacationing in her stepfather's home on Malta is seduced by her female neighbor, who is interested in what might be locked inside a vault in the house. As foreigners on the island, both women become suspects when a leather-clad serial killer begins murdering men on the island.

Cast

Charlotte Kirk as Diana

Matthew Camilleri as Francis

Zach McGowan as Reese

Anna-Maria Sieklucka as Evie

Emily Corcoran as Melania

Antonella Axisa as Chief's Secretary

Giulia Gorietti as Detective Claudia Cavara

Cinzia Monreale as Madam Karmelina

Mikhail Basmadjian as Police Chief Mario Cavara

Rebecca Dimech as Forensic Technician

Matteo Caruana Bond as Gianni

Mike Tabone as Police Officer

Harvey Dean as Inspector Dennes Crawford

Mark Meilak as Laguna Restaurant Waiter (uncredited)

Theodore Zammit as Paramedic (uncredited)

Production

Tyler Nicholas of Joblo.com interviewed Marshall and Kirk, and Marshall stated that it might be the last erotic thriller that he will direct, stating, "To be honest, this might be the last time I do that kind of thing because it's okay to try to achieve an effect for an erotic thriller or whatever, but filming one of these scenes is incredibly boring. I'd much rather be doing action or horror because they’re way more fun."

Reception

Reviewer Freeman of Actionfreunde.de wrote, "For a long time, 'Compulsion' stumbles around aimlessly. None of the storylines feel compelling, none build any tension, and none provide any pace. Neil Marshall should have been honest with himself and simply written a straightforward softcore porn film about Charlotte's truly amazing body, devoid of any plot. Presumably, not only Charlotte but also the viewer would have been more than satisfied. Instead, we're presented with several dysfunctional storylines that are brought together and resolved in a sometimes absurd way towards the end. There are no surprises left, as the viewer already knows what's going on. On top of that, we have to watch Kirk try to play a femme fatale, only to fail miserably. Other actors in the film also deliver utterly inept performances."

Reviewer Tyler Doupe' of DreadCentral.com wrote, "While I wish I could say that this is Marshall's comeback picture, that simply isn’t the case. Compulsion is rough around the edges and will probably fail to land for most. With that said, I enjoyed it enough to cautiously recommend the flick to a very specific audience."

Reviewer Daniel Gorman of inreviewonline.com wrote, "It's all unabashedly titillating and gratuitous, a cheap version of a Joe Eszterhas thriller in an era when such things are extremely out of fashion. [...] It all builds up to a ludicrous twist ending, an absurd rug pull that is as gleefully dumb as it is immensely satisfying."

Reviewer Jennie Kermode of eyeforfilm.co.uk gave the film a rating of 3 and a half our of five stars, writing, "The weak link, of course, is the acting, with a couple of really clunky supporting performances that threaten to break the spell of the rest. There’s also some distinctly cheesy dialogue, but this doesn't feel out of place. All in all, it's an above average example of the genre, and it never takes itself too seriously, with a wonderfully awkward twist close to the end. Viewers choosing this sort of film know what they’re letting themselves in for, and they’re likely to have a good time."

Reviewer Joe Shearer of midwestfilmjournal.com wrote, "Compulsion just never feels authentic, bloody or graphic enough. Bava and Argento made us feel eminently uncomfortable, and nothing here rises above either typical slasher-horror levels or low-grade sexual titillation. The thin, noirish quality of the characters doesn't help, and Compulsion often feels shot on a shoestring with overly bright daytime sequences and no real way to maximalize Malta's natural beauty to create compelling counterpoints. Marshall's usual sense of style squeezes through in a few shots, but they're sandwiched between poorly acted moments that lack necessary giallo passion."