I would first like to begin this post by recognizing the fact that it's been quite a while since I last posted... well, for me at least. I've simply been swamped with the nannying, maiding, and waitressing responsibilities that are going to be paying for my college tuition, London trip, and a whole heap of bills that the real adult world has seen fit to hit me with all at once. And I wish had another one of my funny little stories to share with you... but instead I'll talk about something on my mind that's a little more serious.
Alright. So last night I came home, utterly exhausted, from a long day's work and felt like doing nothing but laying in bed with my dogs and watching a movie - it ended up being Descent, starring Rosario Dawson and Chad Faust. It’s about a college-aged woman (Dawson) who orchestrates the rape of the man (Faust) that date-raped her. Got all that? I’m really not giving anything away; all of this is pretty much declared on the back cover.
Half of the movie was fine; nothing new, but definitely worthwhile. I was completely committed to the story line as we saw Dawson’s character deal with the aftermath of being assaulted. But when things suddenly stopped being explained and her entire demeanor changed altogether, I cried foul. She went from being withdrawn, confused, depressed and frightened to cold, calculating, manipulative, seductive and borderline misanthropic. Now such a transition isn’t impossible, but if you’re going to put the main character on such an arc the audience deserves an explanation.
In the interest of full disclosure, I can’t be impartial when it comes to storylines involving rape. The issue affects me greatly to this day, and it is just not possible for me to separate the topic from my personal feelings and prior experiences. However, I don’t think my past should prevent me from having valid opinions about the way rape is portrayed in the entertainment industry.
What angered me about this movie was that Dawson’s character’s actions made no sense. Out of nowhere she had the power, control and composure to lure her rapist into a secluded area. She effortlessly convinced him to let her blindfold, handcuff and tie him spread eagle to a bed. I don’t understand how Faust’s character could not know that some awful fate was awaiting him... I don’t buy that he was just so cocky that he really thought she had changed her mind about him and really wanted to fuck his brains out mere months after he brutally attacked her. (Just as a side note, there was no grey area in the initial rape scene between Dawson and Faust. She’s screaming and fighting and he tells her that she’s a dirty cunt etc. etc. etc.)
In the end, a big black man appears and rapes the rapist. The skinny white boy screams and thrashes against the bed for several minutes while the black rapist tells him to take it all etc. etc. etc. To be fair, the man is introduced as a shady character earlier in the film, but it is never even hinted that he would be up for such an act.
I don’t understand what I’m supposed to take away from this film. Obviously no real revenge can ever soothe the pain of being raped. Did I really need to see the parting shot of Dawson crying in the dark corner? I don’t think that any new questions were raised. I don’t think that any new aspects of the issue were explored.
Out of sheer curiosity I listened to a bonus feature question and answer session with Dawson and the writer/director, and was physically sick listening to them justify this movie as a champion of victims’ rights. I was flabbergasted as they explained that they screened the film for Eve Ensler, the mastermind behind The Vagina Monologues, and the entire V-day staff went nuts in support of it. What kind of message does it send when authorities in sexual assualt prevention support a movie that depicts male rape as the answer?
Maybe it’s just too late for me to be thinking about all of this, or maybe I need a clearer head in the morning for actual intelligent reflection, but I challenge whoever may be reading this to watch this film and decide for yourself if it is worth anything. I would love to hear someone else’s impartial thoughts and opinions.
