Union Furnace has a fearsome premise. Through sheer choice, strangers sell their lives dearly to earn money, performing random and whimsical games for the pleasure of costumed sadists in a dehumanizing pantomime of sadism and brutality, each competing for their sheer survival.
Although fearfully presented, it’s eventually revealed that film wears its own mask to parade as a horror; where in truth, this is a drama, and too burdened with its horror overtones to be convincing. It’s too unwilling to weave a convincing story between its characters, while simultaneously too shy to serve up any gore.
While each contender is impressively flawed, each with their crushed lives and failed ambitions, they are served lines and deliveries which are too overcharged to take seriously, and the distant cinematography does an excellent job of helping in removing any kind of intimacy. The soundtrack, while well constructed, also suffers from amateurish direction and chaotic arrangement, taking attention away when the image alone would have been stronger, and offensively absent when emotions begin to build.
It’s such a shame. Such a damn shame! If only Union Furnace had a little more fire. And don’t let this film strut around like it’s some kind of original in virgin territory: The Running Man, Battle Royale, Cube, they’ve all been there and done this. Who are you fooling fucking hicks.
Rating: 3/10
Possession Media 