Violation is an extremely difficult film to watch — which is very much on purpose. Madeleine Sims-Fewer delivers an incredible performance.
Major trigger warnings on this film for sexual assault and rape. There is also very graphic violence.
Violation is an intense journey of a movie and be warned, it has some very graphic content that will make certain scenes very hard to watch. It is helmed by a chilling performance from Madeleine Sims-Fewer, who plays Miriam. It is also a story of rage and revenge – one that we all need to watch, no matter how difficult it is to do so.
In Violation Miriam and her husband Caleb spend a weekend away in a cabin with her sister Greta and husband Dylan. After a night of drinking and fun something unthinkable happens and changes the course of the entire weekend.
The rape scene her is very hard to watch. While not completely graphic, the way it is shot, just a close up Miriam’s face and body, is heart wrenching. During these moments I felt like I was in it with her. Her breathing, her whispering to stop, and him saying what he thinks are kind words sent chills down my spine.
As the movie continues on it becomes a sort of psychological revenge thriller. It cuts back and forth through time and it makes you wonder is this happening, or is it a wild delusion that Miriam is concocting to deal with her trauma. Who could really blame her for imaging things but if she is actually doing them, is that justified?
These scenes are a different kind of graphic. They are brutal, intense, and violent. After the violence that occurred by the campfire in the woods, Miriam wants to inflict violence back on Dylan. She is hurt, angry, and quite frankly, traumatized.
The way this film is pieced together is beautifully tragic. The cinematography for certain scenes, like the one in the lake pictured below, is done perfectly. It looks so serene and beautiful, but there is a lot more going on here – not just what you see on the surface.
Overall Thoughts
Violation is an extremely difficult movie to watch because of its subject matter. Madeleine Sims-Fewer gives an incredible and bone-chilling performance as she portrays a woman who has been violated in the worst way possible. With no one to turn to, she begins to commit acts of rage and revenge. This film does a great job of showing the trauma that someone goes through after something like this happens to them.
A deeply tragic and brutal rape-revenge thriller that is purposefully hard to watch — but something we should all force ourselves to see.
Graphic and trigger warnings for nudity, rape, and violence.
About Violation
Unhappily married Miriam and Caleb join Miriam’s somewhat-estranged sister Greta and husband Dylan at a lakeside cabin for a weekend of relaxation and reconciliation. Feeling spurned in attempts to connect with both Greta and Caleb, Miriam increasingly retreats to the easy comfort of her friendship with the affable Dylan.
After a transgressive act of sexual violence, the film’s narrative vividly fractures, disorienting audiences while inextricably tying their experience to Miriam’s as she embarks on a vicious crusade of revenge.
Violation will be available on Shudder March 25th!
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.