Pimped

Director: David Barker
Starring: Ella Scott Lynch, Benedict Samuel, Lewis Fitz-Gerald, Heather Mitchell, Robin Goldsworthy
Distributor: Bonsai films
Runtime: 80 mins. Reviewed in Mar 2019

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Rating notes: Strong violence and coarse language

Audiences know what to expect when they see a title like Pimped. And, in the early part of the film, expectations are fulfilled. However, along with the partying, the sex, the drugs, there is the introduction of a touch of non-realism which could alert an audience to question what they are seeing.

This is a brief film. It has a strong younger cast, especially Ella Scott Lynch in a dual role, Sarah and her sister, Rachel, Benedict Samuel as the enigmatic young man who pimps, loose, with Robin Goldsworthy as one of his targets. And, for the older generation, Lewis Fitz-Gerald and Heather Mitchell turn up as Goldsworthy’s parents.

Writer (with Lou Mentor)-director, David Barker, leads his audience on. The opening sequences might be considered as routine in terms of young people partying. But he also introduces the character of Sarah, a quiet woman, egged on by her sister, Rachel. And then the tone changes. While we have seen Lewis preen himself and rehearse his spiel to ingratiate himself with targets, we see Sarah and Lewis in a kind of mutual seduction.

At this point, a review needs to stop in terms of plot development – which is never quite as might be anticipated. But it can be said that the plot development is quite melodramatic, a shift from sex to violence – and further violent and unexpected twists.

This also means that the film is a psychological exploration of Sarah, the inconsistencies in her character, the inconsistency in her behaviour, and the presence of her sister as a kind of alter ego, sometimes pimping, sometimes acting as a conscience. Quite a lot to intrigue here.

As the audience continues to question their understanding of Sarah and her character and behaviour, the film moves to yet another dramatic twist, giving the audience food for thought for further trying to fathom and to interpret what they have seen.

Which means that Pimped finishes as being somewhat better than expected.

Peter Malone MSC is an Associate of the Australian Catholic Office for Film and Broadcasting.