13 Sins (2024)

13 Sins

13 Sins is a darkly funny, deeply twisted film that grabs you from the startling opening sequence and doesn’t let go it will make you squirm and cringe (and have to watch through splayed fingers during one or two scenes), but will make you taut throughout and no doubt where the story is going.

The director and co-writer Daniel Stamm poses an interesting moral problem here he presents to us a protagonist who carries out increasingly disgusting and horrific acts for money, yet naturally at some point we find ourselves cheering for him. However, “13 Sins” is not merely a remake of the Thai 2006’s “13 Beloved” known also as “13: Game of Death”. It is more in tune with the desperation of contemporary American economic miseries as well as impatient cultural determinants towards quick enrichment.

Most of the emotional connection made to this movie comes from Mark Webber who plays Elliot Brindle. As Elliot Brindle, Webber plays milquetoast salesman whom we all come across every day in our lives however, he won’t spoil your time with his troubles because deep down inside he’s still a kind person. Consequently, we begin to empathize with him when the game gets gorier and body counts rises.

Moreover, how can one say no to that sprightly voice at the other side when the mobile phone rings?

This man knows everything about Elliot; he knows that Elliot has just been fired from his job and that in two days’ time he would be getting married coupled with baby on board with Shelby (Rutina Wesley). Also, Elliot had lost his health insurance due to losing his job which implies that Mike could no longer afford medication for Michael whose disability continues developing gradually (Devon Graye). Moreover, they must house their racist father (Tom Bower) who has just been kicked out of nursing home by moving back into their own house- Elliot’s first girlfriend, Shelby is black.

Elliot was already in thousands of dollars debt when he agreed to earn 6.2 million within a few days. He only needs to meet specific criteria for the completion of 13 tasks. At every step, he will find that money has been deposited into his bank account and the amount increases with each challenge accomplished. However, if at any point he wants out or refuses to follow orders, they would take everything from him and this means one is being watched all the time.

At first the challenges are innocuous though kind of gross. Kill a fly ($1,000). Eat it now ($3,000). The third one made me laugh aloud for its sickeningly cheery intonation: “make Junior cry $5,000″! It is like a treasure hunt with an evil sense of humor but things rapidly escalate.

Stamm who hails from Germany directed “The Last Exorcism” in 2010; this film finds inspired ways into familiar horror material that we ever think we know well enough about it. His last film was a mockumentary on an evangelical preacher from Louisiana who played exorcisms as a gimmick and another fraudster evangelist pretending to be clergyman possessed by devil himself while undertaking the role of deliverance minister (2009). In its simplicity and stripped down manner it remained one of the scariest movies lately seen around us.

His production values may be a bit fancier now and his screenplay (which he co-wrote with David Birke) may seem more ordered than in the past, but his ability to create remains the same. This is even truer of how he unfolds each hurdle. It’s not as simple as that: phone rings, an order comes, we see Elliot walking away with order. They never play out the same way.

Another unexpected surprise is that Elliot begins to enjoy indulging in this gory behavior, while we start enjoying seeing him find himself by allowing himself to take part in macabre activities. Stamm also gives an intelligent and honest treatment of Elliot’s relationship with his disabled brother which avoids sentimentality or feel-goodness.

However there just isn’t enough Ron Perlman for me in a small Supporting Role as the police officer trying to put together all of the varied crimes of Elliot’s. Moreover, there might be one too many twists packed into its conclusion. However, for the most part “13 Sins” is good, scary entertainment that also has some substance behind it making it worthy of being experienced with someone who is not easily affronted.

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