365 Days (2020)

Streaming Services: Netflix

Movie Name/Year: 365 Days (2020)

Genre:  Drama, Romance

Length:  114 minutes

Rating: TV-MA

Production/Distribution: Ekipa, Future Space, Next Film, TVN, Netflix

Directors: Barbara Bialowas, Tomasz Mandes   

Writers: Barbara Bialowas, Tomasz Klimala, Blanka Lipinska, Tomasz Mandes

Actors: Michele Morrone, Anna Maria Sieklucka, Bronislaw Wroclawski, Otar Saralidze, Magdalena Lamparska, Natasza Urbanska, Grazyna Szapolowska, Tomasz Stockinger, Gianni Parisi, Mateusz Lasowski, Andrea Batti, Natalia Janoszek, Lukasz Choron, Reda Pawel Haddad, Sandra Majka

Blurb from IMDb: Massimo is a member of the Sicilian Mafia family and Laura is a sales director. She does not expect that on a trip to Sicily trying to save her relationship, Massimo will kidnap her and give her 365 days to fall in love with him.

Cat’s Point of View:

I am slightly at a loss of words, having just finished watching 365 Days. My feathers are ruffled – and I wish it was just because there was some hot chemistry taking place on-screen.

Alas, much like the backlash that surrounded the glorification of toxic relationships in media that surrounded the Fifty Shades of Grey (2015) trilogy adaptations, this movie follows closely along those lines.

I have a few fundamental problems with the narrative of this soft-core production. The story takes the whole alpha male dominant schtick a bit too far. At least the female lead in the aforementioned trilogy comes to Grey of her own free will – we’ve got kidnappings molestation, and intimidation going on here.

There was potential for an interesting story here, but it seems that the opportunity for developing something of substance was passed over in favor of fast-tracking the leads to sexy-time.

In another parallel to the Grey movies, this is also a book adaptation. I’m afraid I haven’t heard of the books before, but they are likely to be found in the adult romance section. Don’t get me wrong. I read a guilty pleasure book now and again – I just usually prefer my hardcore romance to be paired with supernatural shenanigans and laced with purpose into an actual story of substance. For example, I absolutely adore Laurel K Hamilton’s (Blue Moon, The Laughing Corpse, Circus of the Damned) Anita Blake series and Sherrilyn Kenyon’s (Julian of Macedon, Seize the Night, Wager) Dark Hunter books. There haven’t been any screen adaptations of those, however.

I have a problem with how the film made the rapeyness and Stockholm Syndrome seem ok. The movie even seemed self-aware that it was crossing lines but threw caution to the wind and went for it anyway. I completely understand why critics have panned the production and audience reviews aren’t much better.

They make a steamy couple and look smokin’ without clothes on, so let’s let the stalker, kidnapper, mobster do whatever, right? For a little bit I was hoping that the female lead character would have a spine. I can understand how she fell for the manipulation, though. When I was in my late teens, and before I met my husband, I experienced date-rape. I fell prey to intimidation at the time. That made some of this movie really hard to watch.

I do try to find something positive to say about everything I watch – even if I don’t like it. The cinematography was fairly good here. The production did a great job taking in the scenery and there were some really pretty visuals scattered throughout. The sex, while pornish for most in the US, was at least tastefully shot. They even took care during the naked shower scene to avoid full-frontal nudity for both leads. 

All told, consider this just like one of those adult movies that airs on late-night cable. Keep it away from the young, and watch only if that’s really what you’re looking for. There isn’t enough substance to recommend the movie for anything but eye-candy. I’ve learned that there’s a good chance there may be a sequel, considering this is based on the first book in a series. Brace yourself. 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 0%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 30%

Metascore – None

Metacritic User Score – 0.3/10

IMDB Score – 3.4/10

CinemaScore – None

Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 1/5

Trust The Dice Parental Advisory Rating –  Borderline NC-17

Movie Trailer:

[ Trailer unavailable ]