The film opens with a jaunty introduction from a quirky character, suggesting a comedic element to the film. Director, David Black, builds a miasma of tension and mystery using dark, shadowy cinematography and eerie music. The initial comedy of the prelude sequence, however, is suddenly drowned by scenes of obscene gore. Black dives right into his theme of sadomasochism with both feet. The commitment to gore and scenes of threat may be appealing to some, however I can’t confess to being a fan of extreme horror. I spent quite a while with my eyes closed. The title cards that flash up every so often are an interesting feature that works well. They display the dictionary definition of various words associated with the action, for example, sadism and masochism.
I think the film may have benefited from committing more fully to a comedic style which would have balanced out the continual scenes of pain and given some light relief to the viewers. The acting from David Black and Anastasia C. Kouloukas is generally good but I feel that more fully embracing the comedic side of the film would give them space to grow into their respective roles. The plot may also benefit from a more gradual rise into the extreme. This would provide a better structure and a sense of direction for the action.
Overall, Sinister Symbiosis does what it says on the tin: I was most certainly horrified. David Black’s film is available to watch on YouTube here.
Please note that the film does contain scenes some viewers may find disturbing.