Anna Obsessed (TVX) Review

Reviewed by Oddobsessionmovies  on  5/10/2006

How does one review a cut version of an alternate cut?
I suppose I'll begin with a bit of background.
In 1976, when the term talent in relation to hardcore films didn't mean that a movie included 5 anal scenes or an "actress" was willing to do a creampie, many TALENTED filmmakers lent their hands (and minds) to high class, high budgeted, hardcore productions. Barriers were broken as more and more controversial material was allowed into hardcore productions. Even so, some still pushed the line a bit too far.
(Anna) Obsessed was born in 1976, and released simply under the title Obsessed (a title which inexplicably remains on every single video I've ever seen of this film, even though all the boxes say Anna Obsessed). The film was either to strong, or perhaps to depressing and realistic for both critics and audiences, for it disappeared from screens as quickly as it had arrived. Towards the end of 1977 however, Obsessed reemerged as Anna Obsessed. The new film was slightly re-cut (by what I do not know for the longest version I have ever seen runs 75 minutes, still 7 minutes short of the fabled 82 minute original running time) and received a moderate amount of praise from critics, in particular High Society Magazine which said "you may become obsessed with Anna Obsessed." This is the review which incited me to look, and eventually find this film of tape a few years ago. My initial viewing of it left me less than impressed. There was far too much sex, and the film seemed choppy. Also, the ending didn't make any sense. A couple months later, I was at a local video store's going out of business sale and happened to notice a copy of this film sitting in a for sale bin with a 99 cent price tag attached to it. "What the hell" I figured and bought it. Watching the film on my new tape, I noticed a few changes right away. The pivotal train sequence was longer and filled in a couple of major plot holes. There were also a couple of other noticeable differences which I will discuss latter.

First the general review (under review is the 1982 Arrow video release NOT the current TVX DVD, although it will be discussed):
**PLOT SPOILERS BELOW**
(Anna) Obsessed opens during a rainstorm as a car slowly drives down a rain drenched road. Eventually pulling up to a curb, the driver gets out and makes their way to a window. The camera (now inside the room being viewed) pans over to reveal John Leslie and Constance Money having sex. The watcher stares at the couple, unseen by them, and eventually leaves. The couple are revealed to be Anna and her husband. It appears that Anna has been unable to get-off on the sex she has been having with her husband, which leaves him frustrated and confused. She too does not understand her frigidity, but seems frightened of addressing it. As the scene ends, we hear an ominous radio bulletin stating that another rape has occurred on Long Island...
John goes to work and Constance goes out. While waiting for her train home, she is approached by a young woman (Annette Haven) who takes her picture. Although initially startled by the experience, Anna and the woman begin to talk, but as Anna rushes to catch her train, she drops her purse, and with it her ID. Annette picks it up and puts it in her bag...
At night Anna gets out of bed and masturbates, thinking John is asleep, he is not...
A few days later, Anna is going to her car and is brutally attacked and raped with a gun...
**END OF SPOILERS**
(Anna) Obsessed, when viewed in the 75 minute version is an endurance test. The violence (both sexual and gore related) is very realistic and is not for the easily offended. However, the film never makes the viewer sympathetic for the perpetrators of the violent deeds and instead shows them for the disgusting acts they are.
One major element that adds to the overall success of the film is that it works on multiple levels, one being as a tense psychological thriller and the other as a dramatic showcase for the horrors of rape. Either way, the film channels an emotional response in the audience rarely seen in hardcore films.
Constance Money, who is best known for her starring role in Radley Metzger's The Opening Of Misty Beethoven , gives a dramatic performance like you would never believe as Anna, and the other two principle cast members, Annette Haven and John Leslie provide excellent and spellbinding acting.
The direction and photography are also certainly above average, however, the sex does seem to overshadow the plot developments a bit much and the film would probably have worked at bit better had maybe 10 minutes of sex been cut out and 10 minutes of story been cut in. That said however, (Anna) Obsessed is still a brilliant motion picture that will not be easily forgotten by anyone, whether man or woman, who sees it.

SEX:
There is certainly enough of it to satisfy sleaze hounds.

CUTS:
In the above review, I was referring to the long out-of-print 1982 Arrow Home Video release (Arrow has also just re-released the film, however it is now heavily cut).
The TVX version is unbearably bad. The cuts total almost 5 minutes and completely destroy the narrative flow of the film. The first cut occurs during the train scene when Constance first meets Annette. Around 70 seconds of important dialogue are missing. The next, and possibly most important cut completely removes almost the entire rape scene and therefore destroys much of the effectiveness of the story. The next cut occurs during a sex scene between John Leslie and Constance Money as Money flashes back and forth to the rape and the sex she is currently having with Leslie. This ruins the dramatic effect the scene was intended to have. I will not describe the final cut, for it occurs at the very end of the film, and in doing so I would ruin the ending.

EXTRAS:
NONE!!! Typical, typical, typical…

WHO SHOULD SEE IT:
People who want to be intellectually stimulated and those who believe hardcore films depict women as wanting/deserving rape.

WHO SHOULD SKIP IT:
Anyone who dislikes the thought of good stories, acting, direction, production values,photography, music, etc. Those with weak stomachs, prudes, and people who like to get-off on rape.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
A fine motion picture, not perfect, but still great.