Fest Track On Sirk TV Film Review: BREEDER [Tribeca Film Festival - New York, New York]
The aspect of a horror film wrapped within the context of a psycho dog breeder is an interesting context depending on how it plays out. in "Breeder" [Escaoe From Tribeca], Dot Marie Jones plays her character Patti with a menace but also an almost Annie Wilkes sweetness except when she is crossed. She crosses paths with Russell (Daniel Doheny) who has the credentials to make the next step in genetics possible but he is broke and working with bees on a project that can't gain traction because he cannot afford to get a PhD. On the reverse, Patti also has 5 daughters (though we understand the logistics later). From the first dinner scene, it is obvious something is off because of the discipline and certain details. All of that plays weird but alright in its set up but the tone Doheny threads specicifically in his character is meant to be comedy but it comes off overplayed and snarky with its cadence which doesn’t give one a lot of empathy for his plight.
The girls, specicifically Ainsley (Maddie Phillips), are more in a position of power (but not really) as they are squeezing him and yet they are trapped by the same problem: Patti. Jones gives Patti a glee but a vivid darkness which is motivated (but not really). This is the hiccup of the film's plight. Phillips as Ainsley gives the most dynamic performance of the girls because of her intelligence. However there is still a "Gone Girl" concept wrapped in the idea. Russell’s reactions are right but the whole subplot with his would-be girlfriend seems to be too one-sided (and especially -- in the end -- less than believable). And even when the film makes it break toward the end, the play makes sense it could have been more extreme considering the world it is creating. "Breeder" though is Marie Jones’ movie because she believes what she is doing is right despite the approach being wrong. But even in a basic world where genetics can be used at the very base level, it creates an interesting discussion that could go wrong very fast. B-
By Tim Wassberg
