Kissed - 1996

WARNING: This is a review of a film about necrophilia. If you have a problem with, you know, getting offended and junk, you'll want to stop reading now.
Okay, necrophilia may happen to be the topic of the first feature film by director Lynne Stopkewich, better known for her work on television shows like The ‘L’ Word, but banging corpses is not really what this film is about.
As Dr. Lecter might say, "No, that's incidental."

"Kissed" is about obsession and the lengths one will go to in order to insert or even force themselves right into the thick of the ugliest, most intimate facets of the life of someone they love.

You would not think that a story about having sex with corpses could be emotionally moving and beautiful, and even gentle and meek at times, but here it is.

If you can stomach the actions of the characters, you'll be surprised at how natural and human their behavior is.

Aside from the whole, "I bang dead people" aspect of the movie, this story is very deeply emotional and alarmingly sweet at times.

"Kissed" reminded me of "Secretary," a film that came six years later about a sadist and a masochist who find true love after we've giggled our way through like a hundred minutes or so through a dark and kinky comedy about a cutter and a spanker.

Then before you know what hit you, "Secretary" is suddenly a touching, sweet love story.

Both of these movies shock you on the surface, but end up touching you if you give them the chance.

The desperation with which Matt desires Sandra and the sacrifice he finally makes to be with her doesn't feel sick like you'd expect or, indeed, even as the filmmaker may have intended, but rather it feels like ultimate and sweet (if obviously misguided) devotion.

I was moved by Matt's final act of love. That probably means I have issues, but I've made peace with that.

Don't be afraid to look for "Kissed."

It probably won't be at WalMart or Redbox because, I don't know if I mentioned it, but there's some necrophilia in this picture.

But it's more than worth going out of your way to find it.

Hell, go buy it online.