an ambitious but ultimately ineffective debut endeavor.

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

One of the many things I love about DVD, as a medium, is the way that so many wonderful films that never got the video release they so richly deserved have being unearthed from the vaults and unleashed on the viewing public - usually a public that can't even remember them from the first time round at that.One such forgotten gem is Ray Brady's "Boy Meets Girl" (1994, UK) which although responsible for huge amounts of controversy upon its theatrical release (BBFC not liking its subject matter, for some reason!), never seems to get mentioned by many folk any more. Luckily, after being banned on video in the UK since its inception, it got a nicely put-together R2 DVD release in 2002 so now there's no excuse for having not seen this terrifying slice of thought-provoking brutality... The film begins, as the title suggests, when Boy Meets Girl in that all-too-familiar setting of a divey little bar somewhere. Girl is French, quite the 'randy little tart' it seems, so Boy thinks he's struck lucky, especially when she takes him back to her flat, plies him with wine and asks if he'd like to watch some porn with her. It's all very exciting but after a glass of wine he starts to feel a bit woozy and ... oops! Quicker than you can say "she drugged your drink, dude!", Boy wakes up to find he is in a small room with black walls, strapped into a dentist's chair. Girl is not actually French at all. She's also not particularly nice either. Bad things ensue. VERY bad things... and she wants to film it all.I'd love to tell you more, because the way I've put it probably makes it sound like one of the "Guinea Pig" films (which it's quite a far cry from!), but I also don't want to spoil the plot for you. I WILL however go as far as to say, the entire thing takes place in the black room with minimal cast members (which all lends it quite a 'theatrical' feel), so major cred points distributed all round for creating such a continuously tense and edgy atmosphere that keeps you guessing and utterly engrossed right up until the final few grotesque scenes.There are so many things in this deeply unusual film's favour that enable it to be so effective. The direction, despite an obvious shoestring budget, manages to be stylish and taut, using camera trickery and plot-contextual switching between film and video to keep things looking lively. The acting is surprisingly strong, considering the relative obscurity of the cast members. Danielle Sanderson (sadly never seen in anything else) is nothing short of unforgettable, playing her unstable character with a disarming mix of light and dark. One minute she's soothing, sensual, almost maternal and the next she's positively fearsome, spewing forth verbal bile with the maniacal savagery. It would be so easy for some of her dialogue to be delivered with a large side order of ham, but Sanderson makes her character believable through the intensity of her performance. I *really* wish she'd made other films. It's tragic to think of such an incredible talent being wasted.Of course, what REALLY makes this movie is the razor-sharp script, unpredictable and surprisingly complexed as it is. On top of its constant heartfelt assaults on the (at the time very hot) topic of violence in media, it relishes in playing with your mind and your personal politics, when it comes to morality. The lines between good and evil, right and wrong, continually shift (along with the viewer's sympathies). It's almost disorientating, the way the characterisations manipulate perceptions of what's going on and, by the time the plot reaches its ferociously visceral climax, the impact is made all the greater, because you're being made to THINK about what's going on instead of just watching it through zombified, desensitised eyes."Boy Meets Girl" is one of the more genuinely disturbing films I've seen. Obviously being creeped out by the movies is a very subjective, personal thing but, like I say, this one definitely did it for me. The closest comparisons I could make would be to place it in a similar category to "Man Bites Dog" or "Audition". Fiercely original, darkly comic at times but ultimately very harrowing indeed.Overall Rating: A no-budget 9.5 out of 10.

Excuse me, but some of the previous reviewers have lost the plot totally here. I watched this film with an open mind expecting somewhat more than was delivered. NO, this film is not provocative, disturbing, well-acted, shocking, "artsy", or in any way entertaining.*spoilers follow* - what do we actually have here? Well a movie were obviously the main actress had had enough and made the perfect choice to abandon this film half way through. We have a man meet a girl in a bar. Then, in her appartment, he is drugged and subjected to some ridiculous torture and killed. And that's it, (if someone can point me in a more formulaic structure to this movie then I would be truly obliged). Because I saw nothing more in it than this.The acting is appalling (especially from the lead actor). As I said the "torturer" changes half way through - and this is when it starts to get really bad. Did I feel disturbed by any of the scenes shown? No. If the director/producer/writer/make-up girl/best grip had in anyway meant this then they have some serious learning to do about shock, and I'd suggest some real research. I'll forgive them the year of making - 1994 and their possible naivety, but come on - I was more shocked by the "squeal pig" scene in The Deliverance than any of this nonsense.Avoid this film: it's cheap, nasty, not shocking, terribly acted....oh yeah he dies in the end , and umm so what I don't give a s**t either as I wanted him to from the beginning anyway.Baaaaad 0/10

A cold precise anatomy of a murder. Scary as hell and a reality to many poor victims of serial murders. Being stalked, hunted tracked down and captured, the male lead Tim Pool (character Tevin?) is subjected to repeated brutal assaults both physical and psychological. He is broken down and destroyed as a person, all his secrets revealed. One of the most realistic portrayals of a fascist mind at work ever to be put on film! Watch this for a dark insight into the mind of a ruthless killer. You won't ever have a one-night stand again!

I love this film. It's riveting, smallscale and concentrated. Has a rare intensity, despite occasional lapses in acting. Gripping and frightening exploration of extreme sexuality, which pulls no punches, yet leaves much to the viewer's imagination. Might well be a key underground movie of the 90's.