The Punishment of Lust
Kelly (Antonia Campbell-Hughes) by day works in a tacky little card shop, sometimes doing a bit extra on the side for her friend who gets paid to whip kinky bankers. Victor (Julian Morris) is a manual labour working on the docks but having a dream of working in a nature reserve where he is at his happiest. These two strangers meet one night in a club and on going back to Kelly's end up in bed where Kelly grabs him around the throat as they have sex. It is the start of a passionate affair which gets increasingly kinkier relieving the boredom of their every day life with increasingly violent sex.
Both Antonia Campbell-Hughes and Julian Morris are impressive actors, committing to their roles in such a way that everything about them is believable. From the way Kelly has this kinky side behind a shy exterior to the easy going nature which Julian gives Victor. It impresses me because if you saw these two walking hand in hand past you in the street they wouldn't arouse suspicion and that is exactly what this movie calls out for.
This though is the problem with "Kelly + Victor" because to me this is a movie about two people stuck in dull lives seeking excitement away from the boredom of life through there ever increasingly passionate and violent sexual encounters. But in order to get the same level of kick from their sex they have to step things up as what they did before doesn't have the same effect on them. It is undoubtedly insightful and clever but because of that emphasis on the bleak and the mundane it is a movie which becomes heavy going despite not being heavy.
What this all boils down to is that the intentional mundaness of "Kelly + Victor" unfortunately made it not for me but I can appreciate what the intention was as well as the performances of Antonia Campbell-Hughes and Julian Morris which really stand out.