Lucky Bastard - Lilith Likes to Watch Trick & Treat 2024


Title: Lucky Bastard
Year:
 2014
Starring: Betsy Rue, Jay Paulson, Don McManus
Director: Robert Nathan
Synopsis: Lucky Bastard is a “found footage” thriller about a porn website run by Mike that invites fans to have sex with porn stars. Dave is an eager young fan given a chance to have sex with the fabulous Ashley Saint. But everyone gets more than they bargained for in the seemingly mild-mannered Dave… with gruesome results. The film is captured by the “Lucky Bastard” porn cameras for a fresh take on the “found footage” genre. - via Letterboxd.com
Lilith's Notes: Found footage. You don't see that on this blog too often, now do you?
Buy: Amazon





"Shoot everything, never stop shooting"

Anticipation is a powerful aphrodisiac. I was first exposed to this film via its trailer by Kage, and had been waiting until Halloween to watch it just so it could have a spot in this year’s Trick & Treat. Then came the main event. Was all the build up worth it? Was I satisfied? Did I savour the moment? Or was it an awkward encounter that ended too soon?

Lucky Bastard is a found footage style film about a rag-tag porn studio who’s main gimmick is that they select fans and invite them to fuck porn stars on camera. This episode’s eponymous Lucky Bastard is Dave (played by Jay Paulson), a real We Have Domhnall Gleeson at Home Nice Guy type who really wants to fuck the porn star Ashley Saint (played by Betsy Rue). Ashley meanwhile, has a general rule about not doing scenes with amateurs and is very reluctant to be featured in the production. She agrees after negotiating a pay raise that is a considerable amount over her usual rate.

Upon meeting Dave, Ashley immediately clocks him for being weird, but the producer/director Mike (played by Don McManus) manages to grease the wheels and keep this money train on track.

They arrive at a house that had once been the location of a reality show, and has cameras set up everywhere, in nearly every room. It’s an interesting set up for a porno and a found footage film. It's a clever way of waving off the who/why are they still filming question that often plagues the genre.

Eventually the cast and crew end up in a suitable bedroom and Ashley begins to kiss Dave. He tells her not to touch him yet, but she does and this causes him to release prematurely. More yelling, more arguing, more manipulation and it’s agreed that it's time for Dave to be taken home.

Except Dave isn’t done with the crew yet, and he won’t be done until he gets what he wants, which is intimate time with Ashley.

To this film’s credit, the set up is both unique and completely believable. It’s easy to imagine a studio who’s niche is “normal every day Joes get a day with a pornstar”. That just preys on people’s desire for something better, and hopes that one day, it could be them railing that porn star.

One by one, Dave systematically brutalizes and dismantles the studio until only he and Ashley are left, and Ashley is forced to use her craft to get out of the situation.

Performances range from fine, to actually good. I found the character of Casey (played by Catherine Annette) to be the most compelling. She was a b-list porn performer of the studio that seemed dim and simple, but hints at deeper waters. She plays piano, she has a genuine interest in film making, and tries to hide the vulnerable parts of her soul from the camera. To be honest, she was who I was rooting for the most. I would have liked to see both women work together to defeat the manic evil that was Dave. It might have come across as empowering.

Dave himself is a typical “Nice guy”, he even says it in his audition tape. As things progress he tries to get to know Ashley, but mentioning her children, and stating her real name. When he blows early and the shoot is about to be shut down, he flips out because he is denied the attention of a hot woman, and he also feels everyone is laughing at him. Maybe it’s just because I am a woman, but I picked out Nice Guy coding right away. I hope that was intentional on the part of the film makers.

I think, however, I found it a little predictable. And maybe not as dark as it could have been. Some real gore might have been fun. Some creepy torture would have bumped this up. As it is now, it’s less disturbing than the Singing In The Rain scene from A Clockwork Orange.

Lucky Bastard is a fairly novel idea, made through grit and ingenuity, which is commendable. I’m not sure this film was my kind of film, but I respect it. Porn-centric fictions are tricky. Found footage is tricky. Domestic thrillers are tricky. The crew behind this film decided to tackle all three.

The problem, unfortunately, is that I know it’s not going to stick with me, and I feel bad about that. Don’t let my ambivalence dissuade you, give this film a chance.

Best Moment: The porn production felt grounded and not over the top; found footage felt good

Worst Moment: It should have been more disturbing and violent, and the women should have banded together to stop their tormenter.

LILITH'S SCORE: 3/5 - A Halloween treat, if only because I've never seen something quite like it before.

Until next time, my voracious voyeurs. I’m Lilith, and I’m always watching.

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Comments

  1. I am one of the filmmakers. I came here from your review at Letterboxd. We are always tickled when somebody finds our crazy movie. Thanks for watching and your thoughtful comments! -Lukas Kendall

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    Replies
    1. A pleasure to have you! Thanks for taking the time to comment. Feel free to look around and good luck with any future films you create!

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