5/12/2017 HoundsofLoveIsOneoftheMostDisturbingMoviesoftheYear

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CHILLING

Hounds of Love Is One of the Most Disturbing Movies of the

Year
Filmmaker Ben Youngs Aussie serial killing saga provides a haunting examination of
patriarchal oppression.

NICK SCHAGER 05.11.17 10:57 PM ET

Australiahasalong,richtraditionofdownanddirtyhorror,from1971sWakeinFrightand
1981sRoadGames,to1984sRazorbackand2005sWolfCreek,to2011sTheSnowtown
Murdersand2014sTheBabadook.NowjoiningthatillustriouscompanyisHoundsofLove,
BenYoungsfeaturedirectorialdebut,whichdeliversabrandofserialkillerabductionterror

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thatssobracing,itfeelsasifitwerebasedonaspecifictruecrimecase.Havingpremieredto
ravesattheVeniceandTribecaFilmFestivalsaheadofitstheatrical(andVOD)debutthis
Friday,itsagenreeffortofassuredcontrolanddisquietingsuspenseaswellasadescent
intotwistedrelationshipdynamicsthatculminatesinfearsomefeministfashion.

WomenarefrontandcenterinHoundsofLove,whichisrootedinthethornybondsshared
betweenmothersanddaughters,wivesandhusbands.SetatChristmas1987,Youngsfilm
fixatesonprepschoolerVickiMaloney(AshleighCummings),whosseethingwith
resentmentathermotherMaggie(SusiePorter)forleavingVickisdadTrevor(Damiande
Montemas)awealthysurgeonandrelocatingthemtoalowerrentneighborhoodinPerth.
ExacerbatingthistensionisTrevor,whobuysVickiapuppyandpleadswithMaggietotake
himback,thusputtingtheonusforVickisunhappysituationsquarelyonhermom.Itsan
unfairburdenforMaggietobear,giventhatherpainedexpressionsandstaunchrefusalto
reversecourseindicatethatshesmadeherdecisionbecauseofsome(unmentioned,but
grave)infractionperpetratedbyTrevor.

DespitebeingtoldbyMaggiethatshecantattendaparty,Vickislipsoutofherbedroom
windowatnightandheadstotheshindig.Givenwhatwealreadyknowabouther
environment,thisisaterriblyunwisedecision.Thatsbecause,inahauntingintroduction,
thedirectorpansacrossaschoolyardinsuperslowmotion,gazingatnubilegirlsatplay
(theirhands,theirhips,theirthighs),hiscameramovingeversoslightlyfasterthanthose
figuresintheframeaslyvisualsuggestionthatthewatcherisonestepaheadofthosebeing
watched.Beforelong,twopeopleinacararesuccessfullyofferingaridehometooneofthose
schoolgirls.Whatfollowsaresightsthatelucidatetheordealthatbefellher:adildoina
briefcasebruisedwristschainedtoapostamanloadingatarpwrappedobjectintoatrunk
andawomancleaningupbloodytissueslyingbesideabed,andthenpensivelyhanging
laundryoutside.

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Hounds of Love O cial Trailer 1 (2017) - Ashleigh Cummings Movie

ThatwomanisEvelyn(EmmaBooth),andsheandherhusbandJohn(StephenCurry)are
lunaticswhofindtheirnextvictiminVicki,pullingupalongsideherasshesecretlyabsconds
tohereveninggettogether,andcoaxingherbacktotheirplacewiththepromiseofselling
herweed.DespiteVickisreluctance,sheacquiesces,untilshesintheirlivingroomhavinga
drinkwhich,itturnsout,isdrugged.Asshelosesfocus,Johnturnsuparadiobroadcastof
TheMoodyBluesNightsinWhiteSatinandbeginsdancingwithEvelyninascarilysexual
way,allgropinghandsandlustfuleyes.Then,theduograbVickiandwrestleherintoa
bedroom,withYoungscamerawatchingatadistancethroughdoorways,thepedestrian
foregroundimagesofakitchentableandchairamplifyingthebanalityofthisevil.

Atrepeatedmoments,HoundsofLovevisuallyrecedesfromaboardedupwindoworshut
door,thebettertoimplytheominouscrimesbeingcommittedrightbehindeverydayfacades.
Vicki,however,isnttheonlyonebeingmistreatedinthisranchstyledwelling.AsYoungs
talereveals,whileJohnisoutdealingwithatattooedcohorttowhomheowesmoney,and
VickiandEvelynarespendingoneononetimetogether(atknifepoint),Evelynisherselfa
deeplyabused,andconfused,figure.Participatinginherhusbandshomicidalactivities
whichinvariablyinvolverape,andendwithabodyburiedinthemiddleofaremoteforest
becauseshewantshisapprovalanddevotion,Evelynisabatteredwifeofamostdangerous
sort,soloathingthewomenJohnbringshome(becausehewantsthem)thatsheswillingto
helpkill,andyetsubconsciouslyawarethatheonlylovesherthewayamasterlovesaslave.

ThekeyrevelationinHoundsofLoveisthatEvelynhasyoungkidsfromaprioraffair,and
thatshesdesperatetoregaincustodyofthem(whichshelost,duetosomeobliquely
mentionedincidentthatmayhaveinvolvedJohn).Assuch,sheis,likeMaggie,amother
consumedwithreunitingwithheroffspring.Forallofthefinelytuneddetailsunderscoring
EvelynssubserviencetoJohn,thebestbeingthewayshemeticulouslyarrangeshistwo
piecesofbreakfasttoastonaplateinordertocurryhisfavor,itsthisparentchildbondthat

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trulypowersYoungsfilm,sendingithurtlingtowardaconclusioninwhichEvelyns
allegiancestovariouslovedonesisputtothetest.Booth,forherpart,isamesmerizing
presence,expressingthecontradictoryimpulsesplaguingEvelynsheartwithavolatile
intensitythatmakesherbehaviorunderstandable,ifstilldisturbing.

ThoughVickiderisivelytellshermomshedoesntwanttobeastrongindependentwoman
likeyou,HoundsofLoveis,ultimately,afilmaboutbreakingfreeofdomineeringmale
controlwhichisexertednotonlybyJohn,butalsobyTrevor,whounfairlytellsMaggie,
Ourdaughter'srunawaybecauseyouputyourselfoveryourfamily.BothVickiandEvelyn
learn,intime,thattheresavirtuetoescapingmasculineshackles.Young,however,refuses

tosermonize.Rather,thatcommentaryemergesnaturallyfromhispreciseplotting,whichis
rifewithnightmarishtouches,suchasEvelynandJohndemandingthatVickiwritehermom
comfortinglettersabouthowshesrunawaytocarveoutanewlife,justasMaggiehasvis
visherdivorce.

Youngrampsupthehorrorbyeschewinggraphicdepictionsoftortureandmurder(theless
yousee,themoreyoucanimagine).Andinshotsofwoodpaneledwalls,pitifulChristmas
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trees,andtheweirdanimalfigurines(asmilingpig,apairofwolves)decoratingtheir
shelves,hecapturesthehermeticcreepinessofEvelynandJohnsresidence.Viaalatebitof
misdirectionandhisfinale,respectively,thedirectorprovidesshoutoutstotwospiritual
predecessorsthatclearlyinformedthisgirlkidnappedbyfiendstale:TheSilenceofthe
LambsandTheTexasChainsawMassacre.YetHoundsofLoveisasinister,psychologically
screwythrillerthatstandsonitsownmerits,radiatinginsleekslowmotionpanoramasset
toominousdroningandtuneslikeJoyDivisionsAtmosphereadreamy,deviantvisionof
femalesubjugation,andempowerment.

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FBI Agents Worry White House Will Kneecap Russia Probe

The acting FBI director may promise that the investigation into TrumpRussia
connections will continue. Many agents arent buying it.
JANA WINTER, BETSY WOODRUFF 05.11.17 10:00 PM ET

OnTuesdaynightafterJamesComeygotfired,FBIagentstaskedwiththwartingRussian
intelligenceoperationsstarteddrinking.

TwowellconnectedformerFBIemployeestoldTheDailyBeastthatcounterintelligence
agentsworkingonRussiadeskbasedatFBIheadquartersindowntownWashingtonmetfor
drinksinthehoursaftertheirbosssfiringandsharedtheirconcerns:thattheywouldbe
movedtoanotherdivision,andthattheirworkontheRussiaissuewouldntbeapriority
anymore.

TheseareworriesthathavespreadthroughthebureauinthedayssinceComeywasfired:
thatthenewadministrationwillfindwaystostymieinvestigationsthatcouldcreatepolitical
problemsespeciallyonRussia.Itsaconcernthepresidenthimselfexacerbatedinan
interviewwithNBCsLesterHoltthatairedThursdayevening.

AndinfactwhenIdecidedtojustdoitIsaidtomyself,Isaid,Youknow,thisRussiathing
withTrumpandRussiaisamadeupstory,itsanexcusebytheDemocratsforhavinglostan
electionthattheyshouldvewon,thepresidentsaid,discussinghisreasoningforfiring
Comey.

AmongcurrentandformeragentswhoworkedonRussiancounterintelligence,concern
aboutpoliticalmeddlingispalpable.

Itscompletebananas,saidoneFBIsource.Managementincounterintelligenceare
insanelyconcerned,worriedabouttheoverreachingobstructionandpoliticalinfluencefrom
theWhiteHouse.

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AndaformerhighrankingFBIofficialwhoworkedonaspectsofthecasesaidtheresno
doubttheinvestigationcanbedamaged.

ThisparticularcaseiswithinHQwithpiecesinotherfieldoffices,thesourcecontinued.
Hardtostop,butdefinitelysubvert.

ThepaceoftheFBIsRussiancounterintelligenceeffortdramaticallypickedinrecentweeks
whentheinvestigationintoformerNationalSecurityAdviserMichaelFlynnexpandedto
includehiscompanysworkfortheTurkishgovernment,andaroundofsubpoenaswere
issuedbyaVirginiagrandjuryforrelatedbusinessandfinancialrecords.Thisstemsfrom
reportsoutofTurkeythatFlynnhadatsomepointattemptedtoreturnmoneyhewaspaid
forworkhedidntendupdoing.Thatgaveinvestigatorsamoneytrailtofollow.Flynn
reportedlyfailedtodisclosethisincomewhenhewasemployedbytheWhiteHouse.

Twosourcessuggestedthataspectsofthelargerinvestigationarefocusedonwhetherforeign
influencewasoriscurrentlybeingexertedattheWhiteHouse.Itisunclearifthisis
specificallyrelatedtoFlynn,orotheraspectsortargetsofthecase.

Itisnotjustahistoricalinvestigation,saidoneformerintelligenceofficialwhoworked
aspectsoftheearlystagesoftheinvestigation.

AndrewMcCabe,thebureausinterimdirector,toldmembersoftheSenateIntelligence
CommitteeonThursdaymorningthatnothingwouldstoptheinvestigation.Buthis
confidencedidntcalmmanynerves,inlargepartbecausetheresabroadconsensusin
Washingtonthathisdaysatthebureauarenumbered.Inthatsamehearing,McCabepraised
ComeyanddirectlycontradictedaWhiteHousespokespersonsassertionthattheFBIrank
andfilehadturnedontheirformerboss.
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Literallywhocares,nothinghesaidmatters.Hellbegone,saidoneCongressionalstaffer.

McCabeisnttheonlytopFBIofficialwhocouldbeintrouble.

SeveraladministrationsourcessaidAssociateDeputyDirectorDavidBowdichcouldalsobe
inthecrosshairs.Sourcessaidhehasplayedanintegralroleintheinvestigationthatledto
theresignationofFlynn.Thatinvestigationisongoing.TheFBIwebsitesaysBowdich
overseesthemanagementofallFBIpersonnelandbudgeting.Soifhesreplaced,thatcould
haveasignificantimpactontheresourcesavailabletoagentsworkingontheRussia
investigation.

TheFBIandBowdichdidnotimmediatelyrespondtorequestsforcomment.

AnditsnotjustBowdich.AsFBIdirector,RobertMuellerchangedthestructureofthe
bureausleadership,addingoutsidenonagent,nonbureaupersonnelintotheFBIatthe
rankofAssistantDirector.Thesebecamemostadministrativepositionsthoughsomehad
jointoversightofcounterintelligenceoperations.Comeycontinuedthistradition.Sources
saidTrumpcouldreplacepeopleinthosepositionswithhisloyalists,whocouldcouldslow
theinvestigation.

ThelargertemporarytaskforceinvestigatingRussianinfluenceinvestigationcouldsoonbe
gone,accordingtoaformerFBIofficial.

Theycoulddismantleit,transfertheagentsout,minimallystaffit,haveDOJrefuseto
prosecute,thatofficialsaid.

Theycouldslowdowntheinvestigationstoacrawl,preventchargesfrommovingforwardto
DOJforprosecution,oranyothernumberofwaystheWhiteHousecouldsubvertthese
investigations,saidaformerFBIofficialwhoworkedonRussianinvestigations.

Youhavetoremember,theseagentshavefamiliestheyneedtosupport,saidaformerhigh

rankingFBIofficialwhoworkedcloselywiththeCounterintelligencedivision.Thethreatof
beingfiredfordoingtheirjobisrealhere.

AndComeysfiringcouldhavealreadyhadanimpact,accordingtoCarrieCordero,aformer
attorneyintheJusticeDepartmentsNationalSecurityDivision.

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Onareallymajor,highlysensitive,bigbigbigtimecase,itdoesmatterthelevelofthe
directorspersonalinvolvement,shesaid.Itjustdoes.

AndComeyssupportmattered.

Hegavetheagents,theinvestigators,coverpolitically,shesaid.Hesaid,Yougowherethe
factstakeyouandIwillhandlethepoliticsofit,IllgobrieftheHill,IllholdofftheWhite
House.Hesthelinemaninfootball,keepingeverybodyawayfromtheguysthataretryingto
runormakethepass.Heprovidedacoverforthemtodowhattheyneededtogetdone.

RonHosko,assistantdirectorofthebureausCriminalInvestigationDivisionbeforehis
retirement,saidtheagencycouldalsohitsnagsattheJusticeDepartment,wheretheWhite
Housespoliticalappointeeswillhavemoresway.

Thereareoftenfrustrationsinsensitive,importantinvestigationsthatyouendupwith
prosecutorseithertoofew,whoareunwillingtomoveforwardatthedesiredpace,ortoo
manyandyouturneverysimpledecisionintoadebateclubanditslowsprogress,Hosko
said.Here,Ithinkthatisthepulsethatyouinthemediaandothersoughttobekeeping
closeto:Whatsthepace.Aretheinvestigatorsgettingtheprosecutorssupportthatthey
need?

AttorneysintheDOJsNationalSecurityDivisionareresponsibleforsecuringsubpoenas
andcourtordersfortheFBIagentsworkingtheRussiainvestigation.Hoskosaidagents
sometimessuspectpoliticsistoblamewhenJusticeDepartmentlawyersdontmoveasfast
astheywouldlike.

Prosecutorswillsometimesstarttodebateandquestioneverywordinasubpoenaandit
tendstoslowprogress,Hoskosaid.Andthenyoustarttoaskquestionsaboutisthis
becauseofsomethingpolitical?

HoskoalsosaidhebelievesDanaBoente,currentlytheactingheadoftheDOJsNational
SecurityDivision,hasimpeccableintegrity,andwouldntletpoliticalconcernsslowan
investigation.

ButthosereassurancesareunlikelytoquellthefearsofveteranFBIagentsinvestigatingthe
presidentsassociates.

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TheOrangeblobintheWHdoesntcareaboutanyoneoranythinghecantcontrol,saidthe
formerhighrankingofficial.Hesmadethatabundantlyclear.

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