FORCED ENTRY (1973)

Thought you've seen it all? Well, this is one for you sickos (sickos like me, yeah). This is hardcore, people. This $6200 feature directed with grim style by Shaun Costello in 1973 precedes TAXI DRIVER in showing the ugly side of New York City. A demented Vietnam vet (pornstar Harry Rheems sans moustache) spends his time chasing girls and raping them at gun (or knife) point.

Get ready for a mix of porn, horror and--social commentary (OK, Greg, maybe I went too far, but there's some of that in there) that is truly one of a kind. You put it in your DVD player and are automatically transported to the 70's era Grindhouse times, where stuff like this was actually shown in theaters.

Now, it has its surprising tone and some shots are impressive (it's not that the guy didn't know where to put the camera), but as porn it truly doesn't work. Not even in the vein of the French porn shocker BAISE MOI. This is too unpleasant to even get you hot. In fact, to think that people could have masturbated to this makes one wonder what kind of sickos they were.

The director didn't intend this to be porn but a relentless mix of genres that doesn't give a damn about anything. It's crude, in your face and amateurish, but at the same time way more original and avant garde than a lot of movies that tried hard to be this way.
Let's face it: in all of its unpleasantness, it's honest. And honest in a way CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST is not (no dead sea turtle here, folks).

If you think about how much IRREVERSIBLE probably cost, this gives you the same feeling of "the world is fucked" and its way more cheap and entertaining. At least you get an occasional laugh -some of Rheem's lines truly go too far- and it's completely un-pretentious. Costello also throws in some attempts at "intellectual film editing," while inserting some 'Nam flashbacks in the middle of the main character's demented actions.

In the DVD's liner notes, the director tells us that all he wanted was to "make a movie" and that "he learned how to do it while making it.".Well, this is no CITIZEN KANE (in fact, it's not even NEW WAVE HOOKERS) but it manages to entertain and make you feel completely uncomfortable while watching the whole thing.

If you're a fan of really nasty stuff, this one's got it all: hairy vaginas, blood, stupidity, violence, and explicit sex. The performances range from "I'm trying to act but it's so damn difficult" to "did I just look at the camera?" but it's 100% OK if you keep the title of the film in mind at all times.

Unbelievably, this was remade two years later in a movie of the same name starring Tanya Roberts - at least according to IMDB. I must admit I haven't seen that one. For making a one of a kind film, hats off to you, Mr. Costello. You must be laughing while reading this review and that's just fine. In fact, I watched Abel Ferrara's NINE LIVES OF A WET PUSSY a few days after FORCED ENTRY and the thought of Costello making art films crossed my mind. I laughed afterwards, too. NINE LIVES is not too much better, but it does work as porn, though.

In a nutshell: It's truly worth a look if you're willing to take a (long... make that VERY long) bath right afterwards.

Forced Entry is out now out on DVD via AFTER HOURS CINEMA and can be acquired at www.afterhourscinema.com .