Film Review: "Choke" Lacks Spice

By Connect2Mason Reporter Emily Culley

Choke is the story of Victor Mancini (Sam Rockwell), after he has dropped out of med school to work a meager job at a colonial re-enactment park to help pay for his mother's care at a local private institution. To help money along, Victor has developed a scam of choking in public and getting rich people to “save” his life, while earning him a couple of Benjamins.

On top of all of that, Victor is attempting to get his sexual addiction under control, but banging nearly every girl who comes into the self help group doesn't seem to help the matter. That is until, Dr. Page Marshall comes to him with a rather odd request to help cure his mother's dementia. In an odd manner, all of Victor's problems and issues come to a peaceful conclusion by the end of the film.

Choke is based off of Chuck Palahniuk's book, the writer of Fight Club. As for the par, Choke is flanked with a rather grotesque overtone. The worst of sexual acts, and foreplay gone array; insane antics acting out against society, questioning everything they pass.

While Fight Club grew into this anarchist, cult classic; Tyler Durden living as he wants, when he wants. Choke, on the other hand, loses something in translation. Some of the character's insane quirks were tamed down for the movie version; some of the scenes altered—as normally happens.

Yes, Choke, is a beautifully crafted movie; the scenes are well thought out and artistic; Palahniuk's narrative voice is dominate, and as always a wonderful addition. But there's something missing, the specific flare and energy the book had did not fully translate into the big screen.

Grade: A-