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Cannibal Drug: Horror Film Explores Grim Weight-Loss Secret
28 Jan
Summary
- A Melbourne student uses human ashes for weight loss.
- The film critiques body-conscious culture and extreme diets.
- A supernatural element emerges from the consumed remains.
Director Natalie Erika James's latest film, "Saccharine," delves into the dark side of extreme weight-loss methods, set and shot in Melbourne. The story follows Hana, a medical student tormented by her body image, who becomes entangled with a dangerous new diet pill.
Hana discovers the pill, known as "The Gray," is made from human ashes. Despite this grim revelation, she begins creating her own version using cremated remains from a cadaver. This macabre practice leads to rapid weight loss but awakens the spirit of the deceased, who haunts Hana.
The film serves as a cautionary tale against the mania of a body-conscious culture, utilizing disquieting sound design and visuals. While it highlights James's genre styling, "Saccharine" is noted for its descent into body horror rather than the emotional depth of her earlier work.
