Review: We Are What We Are (2013)

There are few topics that a film can cover that are more disturbing than cannibalism. The act of one human being consuming the flesh (and viscera) of another human being is not only a disgusting concept, but a mortifying one as well.

Add to that already horrible notion the equally disturbing ideals of Religious fundamentalism, and you have the makings of one truly creepy piece of Cinema on your hands.

*Relax, we're not bashing Religion out of hand here, but there's no way that any rational human being can deny that some people take the concept of blind faith to pretty terrifying extremes.

Before we begin our review in earnest, let us offer a quick word of advice to those people who are intent on watching either version of We Are What We Are, and especially this remake version: Don't eat dinner while you're watching either, especially if you're having chili that night.

After their mother dies in a tragic slip and fall, the young girls of the Parker Family are not only left to take care of their distraught father and oblivious younger brother, but to tend to the family traditions, most of which involved butchering young girls and eating them, because, God says so.

"So... what exactly are we?"

The Parker clan lives a simple life in the Catskills, serving God and doing their best to avoid notice. When the same torrential rainstorm that threw their ailing mother in a ditch starts washing old human bones downstream, the local Doctor (and Coroner?) starts to question just what is up with the clan, and if they had anything to do with the recent disappearance of his daughter.   

"What in the fuck are you?"

With a dead mother, a shaky and creepy dad, a nosy neighbor, and the town Doctor and Police asking too many questions, the daughters of the Parker Family take up their womanly duties and do their best to uphold a family tradition that really shows just how messed up their family is. Nastiness and uncomfortable dinner scenes ensue.

"This, is apparently what we are."

We Are What We Are is a remake of the 2010 Mexican Horror film of the same name. While the original was a solid film in its own right, the remake improves many aspects of the original, and we found it to be a superior effort in many ways.

The opening scene of the movie sets the tone and a fairly high quality bar for the movie. It all feels very sparse and simple, and never gets too overly-complex, while at the same time weaving a pretty intricate tapestry of patriarchy, morals, and Religion around the horrifying practice of cannibalism. Though mostly bloodless, the movie disturbed the hell out of us, and we even had to avert our eyes a couple of times.

Everyone in the cast did an amazing job, and so it's hard for us to single out just a few of them for praise. If we had to choose one above the others, it would have to be Michael Parks; Parks is one of the finest character actors that we have, and he's his usual brilliant self here. Bill Sage (whom we are not familiar with at all) was pretty imposing and convincing as the patriarch of the Parker clan as well, and the "showdown" between he and Parks was something to see.

Ambyr Childers and Julia Garner were both excellent as the daughters who are forced to do unspeakable things all in the name of family, and it may just be Ambyr Childers who carries the whole movie with her performance. Like we said though, everyone was great in this.

She is what she is, and that's hot.

I'd like to say that this movie is purely about nature vs. nurture, but that's only true if the nurture part of that equation is driven heartily by Religious faith. The way that the children are "nurtured" in this movie has everything to do with their father's misguided devotion to God, and shapes them and their lives, for better or worse.

Some people may not stand for watching a film with such a derisive message about faith and Religion, even though it's all very subtle, but the fact is that the movie makes a good point about how Religion can lead the best of people to live the worst kinds of lives. The movie isn't preachy, but its subtext is pretty plain to see.

She will kill and eat you, because God is good.

 

After watching this movie, we're never going to eat chili again. Never.

If the dinner scene in this movie doesn't make you gag, then you are indeed a strong, strong person. The gore in this movie is mostly implied, aside from a few scenes of actual violence. Overtly gory or not, this movie will make you queasy none the less.

"Now you go fillet your Mother. Go on now, git!"

Aside from a few naked female corpses, there was a sex scene that ended up being more disturbing than it was erotic. So, nothing all that fun or exciting in the sexy department.

Though the dinner scene probably affected us the most, we have to say that the ending probably shocked us more.

Yes, we looked away from the screen, multiple times.

As both a remake and a stand alone film, We Are What We Are is a solid, well-made piece of work that will genuinely effect you no matter your take on its content. It's definitely a gross-out at times (though a subtle one), but if you can weather the nauseating storm, you may just end up loving this movie as we did. It's definitely worth a VOD rental, and maybe even a Blu/DVD purchase, especially at that low $15 Amazon price.

Either way, see it when you can.

B+

We Are What We Are is available now on Blu-ray, DVD, and VOD. It's also currently streaming on Netflix.

Ambyr Childers and Julia Garner made the disturbing events in this movie a little more bearable with their beauty... though we're still never eating chili again. No one is pretty enough to make us do that.