Truly Dreadful Film

Strictly average movie

Highly Overrated But Still Good

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

The Masters of Horror television series only lasted "two seasons," but while it was "on," it was a breeding ground for amazingly original ideas. Mick Garris's self-written Chocolate, from one of his books (if I'm not mistaken, A Life in the Cinema), is a brilliant and fascinating idea. Involving a bored single (newly divorced) man (played by the gorgeous Henry Thomas) who works in a chemical laboratory developing artificial food flavors, suddenly begins receiving sensory projections from an unknown woman. Then when the sensations end, he becomes obsessed with finding out where they came from, discovering the woman he thinks he's in love with isn't exactly an angel. The potential here for taking horror into new directions, making it dark and vague and interesting, is almost limitless. There's so much a good director can do with this material. But then, consider who the director is... It's Mick Garris. A man who got his "Masters of Horror" badge with television series, most of which would get a PG-13 rating, were they to have been inspected by the MPAA. A director whose previous film involved a college student having to decide whose soul the Grim Reaper should take- his or his mother's. A great fan of drama, but not a great director of drama. And unfortunately, he brings his trademark soggy, heavy-handed, all-wet approach to this film as well.So it plays as an emotional discovery film, not a creepy horror movie. Which means that when the intended shocks come in, they're as horrific as an old sock. I guess Garris was going for a first-person kind of thing. To try and put the audience in the position of the character, Jamie. So that when something bad happens to him, they're upset. Well... they might work for a mainstream thriller or a Lifetime TV-movie. But not a horror movie. I think all the best horror films that tried this kind of formula knew that a remove is very important. To be able to look at the whole situation as though it's comedy. It's over the top and grating, and takes itself much too seriously. The best attribute to the film is style. Garris definitely knows how to make a good looking movie (his previous, Riding the Bullet, was almost breath-taking for a TV movie) and the music score by his frequent collaborator Nicholas Pike (though some of it goes into the ultra-clichéd Classical genre), is also incredible. But without a real horror twist- something darker than what we're left with, it's just blah. Especially since they mix in elements of sexuality. They could have even gone the Clive Barker route, and made the character discover he likes some sexual experimentation (anything would've been fine), change him around somehow. Anything to make him talk in fewer poetic speeches, which all feel totally phony.On the positive side, the best thing about Chocolate is that it was shot in Canada. The locations they shot at are so beautiful, I want to go there. So, the scenes in the second half are pretty much better than those in the first half. Except for this whole sub-section where Jamie tries to make his best friend Wally (played the handsome, very well-aged Matt Frewer) believe him. Anyone else wish he had just kept it to himself? It would have been more adult to not have him care what other people think. It's a film about psychic transmissions anyway, no one ever believes people in those situations. Even I wouldn't believe anyone in that situation! When they finally get into 'the world' of Jamie's fantasy woman, we know almost exactly what's going to happen (the person I watched this with said right out loud what would happen before it did and she was right; and no, she hadn't seen it before) - the periodic narrations give that away - it's almost too late to care that it's not horrific. So I kind of marveled at how amazing the production / set design of her apartment was. The has this elaborate jungle painting all over her walls and it's a shame the scene wasn't longer or hadn't gone here before. Again, this points to what a good style director Garris can be at times. At least he gives us something to look at while we're waiting for it to end.But I can't help going back to just how much potential this piece had. It's done in a manner that only gives us traditional sensitivity in return. It doesn't pull any truly disturbing or dark strings. Take for example, the scene in which Jamie's having a psychic vaginal orgasm in bed... in front of his ex-wife and his son. His son thinks the woman Jamie spent the night with previously had done something to him and tries to sort-of attack her while the mother pulls the kid away. All the while, Jamie's writhing and groaning on the bed (without a hard-on, naturally, since again it's vaginal and taking place in his psyche). You could call this scene uncomfortable, but not for any reasons related to the genre. I don't really call embarrassment a typical reaction to a piece of horror. At least, not to one this shallow. Even when the film turns Jamie into a kind of stalker, the tone remains light and only casually mysterious. The only reason I finished watching this was because of the style. As a mystery, it's a big flop. It won't make you feel excited, it won't thrill you, it doesn't stir any deep emotions, and it doesn't play with your mind. It doesn't even play with your eyes, much. Had this been directed by someone who knew to change it or make it more dangerous, and the script been modified considerably, it could have been an epic. Or more refined and balanced than Clive Barker's bloated Lord of Illusions.

"Chocolate" is an excellent psychological thriller with supernatural overtones from director Mick Garris (who is largely responsible for bringing the excellent "Masters of Horror" project to the small screen).Henry ("E.T.") Thomas plays a man who specialises in creating artificial flavourings for the food industry. One day, he starts to see through the eyes of another person, a beautiful and sexy woman, as well as experiencing her sensations. This closeness, and other events, lead him to search for the mysterious girl and the two characters find their lives changed dramatically as a result.This episode of "Masters of Horror" has a slow burn but I loved the pace and the dramatic build up. The cast of this production are excellent and it's always great to see Matt Frewer. As can be expected from "Masters of Horror", the female cast are delightful. A special mention must go to the French-Canadian actress Lucie Laurier, who is delightful as the focus of Henry Thomas' emotions."Chocolate" is an absorbing 60 minutes of effective drama and another reason why "Masters of Horror" is the one of the greatest television series of the noughties. It's a simple but terrific tale, ably directed by Garris and featuring a great cast.Recommended viewing.

In Chicago, the lonely Jamie works in the food laboratory of a company developing flavors with his best friend Wally. Jamie divorced from his wife a couple of months ago and misses his son. Jamie is on diet but after eating a chocolate, he becomes psychically connected to a beautiful woman, seeing through her eyes and feeling her sensations.The name "Mick Garris" is not a household horror name, at least not for many less-seasoned viewers. If they know him, it might be as the director of Stephen King's "Sleepwalkers", "The Stand" or simply as the man running the show behind "Masters of Horror". Garris has made a niche for himself largely focusing on King adaptations. He brings with him Matt Frewer and Henry Thomas, both of whom he has worked with repeatedly.Many have said this is one of the weaker films in the "Masters of Horror" series. Along with Tobe Hooper's "Dance of the Dead", it ranks as the least appreciated film of the first season. But the truth is, it is not a bad film at all. Just different. No serial killers, no slashers, no aliens, no zombies and no post-apocalyptic world. Just a man with visions and a woman he becomes obsessed with.If you are looking for gore and guts, this is the wrong film. One scene has a little blood, but overall this is pretty tame. However, the other horror staple -- sex -- is here, and in multiple variations. If you like your horror tales to be a little more sensual, that is probably a good thing.Regarding the casting, Matt Frewer is something of a horror and science fiction icon. This is another thing "Masters of Horror" seems to be good at, plenty of cameos. And here he is playing a 45-year old lab technician by day (who looks more like 60) and punk rocker by night. A perfect casting choice.There is also one key scene that stands out as what will make this film memorable. Without giving too much away, there is a part that is in some ways very much like the grotesque assault scene from "Strange Days", except now it is inverted and becomes incredibly welcome. It is safe to say the kind of sexual pleasure that takes place in this film you will never see in any other film again, which is almost too bad.Keep an open mind on "Chocolate". It is not gory, it is not even scary in the traditional sense... but the storytelling is decent and it is certainly one of the most unique tales in the "Masters of Horror" series.Additionally, the DVD provides a few bonuses. Some behind the scenes features, an interview with Garris. A commentary where Garris talks not only about this film, but the "Masters of Horror" series in general. What is most interesting is how many years this script was around getting revised, going from short story to feature to "Masters of Horror". And even a clip of Garris interacting with Roger Corman, the godfather of modern horror and science fiction.

Regarding the first season of Masters of Horror, viewers tend to either love or hate "Chocolate" and "Dance With the Dead." "Dance with the Dead was one of my favorite episodes but I am biased when it comes to things written by Richard Christian Matheson.This episode is slow-paced but well directed and well acted in. It focuses on a psychic connection between two people. Garris has played a fascinating role in the creation of this series. He's written some of the episodes, including ones that he didn't direct, like "The V Word" and has done a great job gathering these directors.However, I feel that I must defend Eli Roth from the comments of Jonny Numb. Quote: "by the way, how on EARTH can you call Eli Roth a 'master' of ANYTHING?" Some people may hate the things that Eli Roth has created, Hostile and Cabin Fever, but he is a masterful director. Besides, what's the point of bashing him when he plays no role in the series. Spoiler: Eli Roth is not in the series. At all. Period. Spoiler II: I love Eli Roth.