MASTERS OF HORROR: MICK GARRIS' "CHOCOLATE"

MASTERS OF HORROR: MICK GARRIS' "CHOCOLATE"
By Ken Leicht

Mick Garris. What am I gonna do about that Mick Garris? One of the nicest guys in the biz. As an ambassador for horror film, he’s tops. As a director…wellllllll. I hate to say it but I’ve never been thrilled with his work as a director. My memories of his work all seem to be that they were cast with a bunch of TV actors who didn’t reach a new level in overly lit un-scary Steven King adaptations. I know Steven is high on his work…mostly I suspect because he’s really faithful to the material…but I’ve never really been that thrilled with his stuff. And it does pain me cause I really like the guy. He probably has a great horror film in him but I haven’t seen it yet. Sadly his Masters of Horror segment isn’t it.

In “Chocolate,” Henry Thomas plays Jamie, a newly divorced food flavor chemist who suddenly finds himself having sensations and visions of some unknown woman. Rather than going to seek help, he chooses the idiot route by falling in love with the woman and trying to find her and help her even though she’s gotten involved in a murder.

This entry was painful to sit through. I gotta give props to Henry for his acting bravery pretending to be fucked by unseen forces like he was starring in a male version of “The Entity”. But as impressed as I was with his commitment, it was all just too stupid for me. As Mr. Garris wrote this, I hate to think that this represents his fantasy life.

All would be forgiven if it was at least scary…but…like all the episodes in this show so far…not scary.