Vents MagaZine Music and Entertainment Magazine
Related Articles
Article by: Jennifer Ariesta
Written, directed and produced by multi-hyphenate filmmaker Joey R. Marino, Tightly Bound is a tense domestic influence drama featuring the harrowing struggle of a woman in an abusive marriage.
Emily (Jessica Hottman) is married to Daniel (David Morwick), a hyper possessive man with some emotionally abusive streak. He constantly tracks Emily’s every move, gets suspicious when Emily even slightly interacts with other people, and regularly threatens her into submission. Things go from bad to worse for her when Emily discovers she’s pregnant. Fearing for her and her baby’s future, Emily is driven to do the unthinkable.
Rather than relying on a twisty plot, the film is focused on the characters’ journey, especially Emily’s. She represents millions of women who endure abusive relationships every year. The film begins with a title card quoting statistics on domestic abuse experienced by women in America, and the film gives a compelling account of one such experience in Emily’s life with Daniel.
The film is intentionally shot like a horror movie, complete with the bloodcurdling score and gloomy visuals to highlight Emily and Daniel’s tense dynamic. It does so much to depict Emily’s state of mind as, on the surface, Daniel looks just like any ordinary man who is perhaps a little too attached to his wife. However, once he’s triggered by jealousy, you can see why Emily is cowering in fear around him. Their marital dynamic is so organically portrayed, with subtle details that real life survivors often mention: the gaslighting, the irrational accusations, the occasional remorse, the brief moments of tenderness followed by anger outburst.
Watch the trailer of Tightly Bound on YouTube:
Hottman did a great job portraying a classic domestic abuse victim with all the telltale paranoia. You can feel her palpable fear through the cowering and micro facial expressions, as well as the persistent distraught she feels even when things seem to be okay. Opposite her, Morwick also portrays her abusive husband Daniel with the right amount of menace and manipulation. He has to act out a wider range of emotions, from unsettingly calm to chaotic rage, which he ably juggles with panache. It goes without saying: the two actors’ performances carry the movie.
From a directing standpoint, the film is – as mentioned earlier – shot with horror movie sensibility, for obvious reasons. The film is especially fond of using music and creepy editing in scenes of abuse. It does well to portray Emily’s horrific experience, it really isn’t subtle and elevates the films nuances that relationships like Emily’s often unfold in real life.
Visually, the film is exquisitely shot – with crisp cinematography and sleek camerawork. The film also has a penchant for wide angle shots in the couple’s home, which does well to capture Emily’s feeling of entrapment and the hollow in her heart. The lighting is ever so moody, too, no matter if it’s daylight or nighttime – a representation of the darkness in the marriage. Aesthetically, it has the right ambience to depict the chilling atmosphere between the couple.
Tightly Bound is an effective film with a lot to say about the nature of domestic violence, including its toxic cyclical nature. The film delivers a compelling story about enduring and surviving domestic abuse.
The ending is profound. You must watch it to feel it. Jennifer Ariesta – Film Critic
