I give credit to director Marco Kreuzpaintner for trying to discuss the horrors of the very real international sex slave industry. I dismiss him for how he went about it.

This is obviously a touchy subject and not one that makes for fun night at the movies. I can't imagine too many people would look forward to a movie outlining the trials of a poor Mexican girl who gets kidnapped off the street in her hometown so she can be trafficked to New Jersey to be sold for sexual purposes on the Internet. Likewise, I can't imagine too many people watching particular movie and feeling like that hadn't taken part in some mild exploitation themselves. The inherent problem with making a film like this is that the filmmaker has to delve into some horrid territory in order to explain the horrors of this world. Kreuzpaintner is far too blunt, too sloppy with his narrative to handle this subject matter.

The story is poorly woven and relies on cheesy coincidences and forced conveniences in order to usher the characters to their needed spots. All of this leads to a contrived final act that completely ruins the whole piece. Kreuzpaintner is comfortable making his audience suffer through a number of rapes, beatings and scenes of harsh abuse but when it comes to a logical and honest ending, he can't close the deal. The final act is a happy little package where the world is set straight again. Given the coarse nature of what preceded it, this "Hollywood" ending as inorganic as a film can be.

I certainly welcome any discussion about this subject. I think it is vital for people to know about the sex slave industry that is literally outside their doors and around the world. When a person watches porn on their computer they should do so knowing that it is likely the participant is being forced in some fashion to perform the acts. Many times participants are drugged or threatened into getting in front of the camera. When a person consumes pornography online, even the "professional" stuff, they're contributing to a wider industry that enslaves women, men and children and is a quiet scourge on all of our societies.

This film has the bravery to show this horrible world but doesn't have the brains to do it right.


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