Julia X (2011)

Julia X: Directed by P.J. Pettiette. With Valerie Azlynn, Kevin Sorbo, Alicia Leigh Willis, Joel David Moore. Meeting a man on the Internet, Julia decides to see him in person, only to get abducted and branded with the letter “x” by that guy. A game of cat and mouse follows, but the story has an unexpected twist.

“JULIA X is a very strange film indeed and that it works at all is down to the talents of writer/director P.J. Pettiette, who brings a ton of high energy slapstick to his production. This twisty-turny thriller turns out to be a black comedy of epic proportions, with virtually no story to drag down the pacing. Itu0026#39;s simply a battle of wits between a serial killer and his supposed victims.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe film benefits immensely from the presence of former HERCULES star Kevin Sorbo playing the killer. Sorbo is a likable, lovable screen presence and that continues to be the case here; you just canu0026#39;t take him seriously as the villain as his persona is exactly the same. The story sees him taking a woman captive with the intent to kill her, but the tables are turned early on.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWhat follows is a gruelling journey of violence as incredible amounts of pain and torture are inflicted on each of the leading characters in turn. The special effects are effective, yes, but the filmu0026#39;s light-hearted feel means that this never ventures into real torture porn territory; the intention is to entertain, not to disgust, so itu0026#39;s surprisingly enjoyable. I usually hate this genre so itu0026#39;s saying something that I enjoyed this one.”