The fashion industry fascinates me with its almost contradictory nature. The women who model for the designers are almost universally despised for their looks by the very women who they are modeling clothes for. Industry beauty standards are constantly protested against, due to their unrealistic expectations of body size and type. It's amazing that an industry so vilified by its target demographic can manage to survive, even flourish, while under such scrutiny.

The fashion industry, particularly its models, is the centerpiece of Binge & Purge, a new SOV thriller from Sub Rosa. With a much larger scope than other entries in the sub genre, it sets itself apart as a solid work that deserves a look.

The movie starts with revolution in the streets of Spain. W.W.II era footage is spliced with sepia-toned video to establish time and place very well. Two men look in horror as they watch cannibalistic goings-on in an alleyway. Disgusted, they shoot the cannibal dead rather than watch the grisly feast any more. Flash forward several decades to the very near future, and two cops on patrol. Through their conversation (filmed in a style reminiscient of TV's COPS, no less), we learn that terrorist attacks have forced the U.S. into a state of martial law. Warrants and basic human rights have been thrown aside for the benefit of the population's safety. Answering a call, they enter a home, only to find a woman munching ravenously on a cadaver. The woman then overcomes the both of them amid screams and gunfire. Enter our group of plucky, anti-establishment private detectives, who enter the very same house, and find the two police officers joined with the woman in gut-munching glee. They murder the three cannibals and leave confused. Why were two police officers eating a corpse in the house they were investigating? Why has there been a recent rash of disappearances in the area? How does it all tie in to fashion mogul Karl Helfringer? The answers are somewhat obvious, but the way they are presented give the movie bonus points.

Color me pleasantly shocked when Binge & Purge flirted with genius at a few junctures. Not content to give a simple, linear, point a-to-b structure, Writer-Director Brian Clement liberally peppers B&P with surreal moments that aren't necessary to the story, but heighten the mood immensely. Aside from the beginning set in Spain (still one of my fave SOV tricks), we're given a disgusting cooking tip from one of Helfringer's models, a very well-directed sequence in which someone finally "turns," and frantic, coke-dusted photo shoots. The photo shoots in particular are nice, as all of the models are very cute. None would be a fashion model in mainstream society with their punk-rockabilly looks, but for the sake of the film (and my libido...reowr!) they're easy on the eyes. Plus, you're doubtful to forget the sight of the police chief in his underwear, snorting POUNDS of cocaine (there’s a LOT of blow in this movie...a LOT) and gnawing on someone's arm (there's a lot of flesh eating too).

Presentation was rather lacking for this one. Video quality was very muddy, with darker scenes being almost incomprehensible. Audio was decent, but not mixed right, as sound effects often overwhelmed dialogue. This seems to be the case with a lot of SOV flicks, however. Extras are massive, including a director's commentary track, outtakes, deleted scenes, featurettes, and trailers.

Binge & Purge comes recommended simply for its originality. The sight of cute girls eating people's guts is a guilty pleasure guaranteed to get a reaction out of you. Recommended for gore-hounds, indie horror nuts, and those with a little taste for something different.