Sociopathia (2015)

Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

Good movie, but best of all time? Hardly . . .

As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

A story that's too fascinating to pass by...

SOCIOPATHIA is a lame attempt at a psychological horror movie, a simple gender-swap rip-off of the banned classic MANIAC. The story is about a dull woman who works making special effects props by day and who kills her lovers by night, turning them into human dolls to keep her company. This dull film features indifferent acting and lots of sexual content, but not much else. A lot of effort has obviously gone in to make it quite nice looking at times but why bother when the film has no voice, no personality, and certainly no sense of menace or disquiet.

...and even that may be too generous for this ill-conceived, shameless ripoff of/homage to the 80s exploitation classic, "Maniac," never mind that pointless 2012 reboot with Elijah Wood. "Sociopathia" evinces nothing worthy of its sleazy slasher inspiration; tyro co-writer/director Ruby Larocca would be well-advised to stick to being a Scream Queen. I was tempted to slag this off with a "1" vote, but there is at least a small modicum of talent on display besides naked breasts. I'm hard-pressed to say where or what, though. The lead actress makes no significant effort to match Joe Spinell's conflicted psycho; only co-star Asta "Return to Nuke 'Em High" Paredes shows any real screen chops, and the entire pedestrian cast, strewn though it is with multiple nubiles, is pretty much sunk from the get-go by its truly wretched script. From the pedestrian acting to the no-fi production quality, "Sociopathia" simply fails again and again. Small wonder actors reportedly bailed on this nonsense. Absolutely not worth your time or money. You've been warned; Spinell's grave must be blazing hot from uncontrollable rotation.

Deranged and introverted, but still endearing kook Mara (a credible and sympathetic performance by the adorable Tammy Jean) has a job making props for movies. Things seem to pick up for Mara after she meets and falls for perky producer Kat (a winningly spunky portrayal by Asta Parades), but after their heated relationship falters Mara loses her already tenuous grasp on reality and goes off the murderous deep end.Directors Ruby Larocca and Rich Mallery do a sturdy and compelling job of astutely capturing Mara's unhinged state of mind (the scenes with Mara talking to various toys and the rotting bodies of her victims are genuinely creepy and unsettling), ground the macabre premise in a plausible everyday world, and deliver a satisfying smattering of tasty distaff nudity and steamy soft-core sex along with a handy helping of nasty gore. The crackling erotic tension between the attractive and enticing leads provides plenty of extra sizzle. However, this film's key triumph is the remarkable way it depicts Mara as a tragic and troubled person who evokes a complex mix of fear and pity from the viewer. Kudos are also in order for Jared Noe's crisp cinematography and Sean Burnell's shuddery score. A solid little fright flick.

This one was directed by Ruby Larocca who everybody knows from Orgasm Torture In Satan's Rape Clinic (2004). Story centres around a prop builder who we quickly find out doesn't have all her buttons and as a result she throws on a mask and kills people always getting blood everywhere.The film just ends up being a female version of Maniac (1980) which is probably her homage of sorts but it comes too close to Maniac (2012) release which still leaves a bad taste.I guess for Ruby's first time directing its not bad. Film quality is good as well.