I.C.U. And the Joy of the Stop Button: A Movie Review

Oh Aash Aaron, the boredom of I.C.U. is equal to watching dust settle. This film is labelled in the genre of thriller on some sites, but mysteriously there are few scares or tense moments found here. This review is a precedent, as there are no other reviews on this 2009 title! The first hour, with nothing happening, is followed by a looming black whole, which promises to dull the senses further. However, this film has managed to move onto video-on-demand this month, through Gravitas Ventures.

The synopsis involves: two wank happy teens who spy on their neighbours for titillation and excitement. Then, they spy another pervert, who gets his thrills from assaulting local prostitutes. Enter a strange, bloody climax and the end.

Movie specialists might recognize director Aash Aaron's name with Vigilante, or The Dark Lurking. Vigilante has been reviewed (here) and The Dark Lurking has received ambivalent reviews. This Aussie director made this project for over a million, but the film is not worth the price of admission.

Please say no to dubbing. Technical flaws aside, the lack of action or character development drones. Also, watching pervy teens stalk others through binoculars makes one begin to feel pervy, themselves. So, the stop button offers solace and once pressed, there is a feeling of contentment.

Wherever this films plays - run! If someone talks about this film, change the subject. Did you get I.C.U. as a gift? Throw it away! This review is published as a warning for fans to skip the film and watch the much better Aaron film Vigilante. Well, maybe this is an exaggeration, but the groans outmatched the thrills in this pricey independent production.

Sound design/technical: 5 (dubbing is not appropriate to films, purposeless interlaced images extend the film's runtime, but this is not good for holding viewers).
Acting/believability: 6 (fine).
Plot/story/writing: 4.5 (something needs to happen in the first hour to keep this viewer's attention).

Overall: 5.1 out of 10.