Make Believe 2023 Film Festival – In Poundcake, writer/director Onur Tukel isn’t exactly subtle in his satire. His latest feature is an over-the-top slasher about a man in a gimp mask who only kills straight white men. Along the way, there are heavy conversations about censorship, freedom of expression, the Black community, women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, and a host of other issues. The film taps into nearly every cultural issue occurring right now, while a slasher stalks the streets of NYC. This is a film more concerned with message than anything else and calling out both the far-right and far-left.

The film opens as Poundcake, as he comes to be called, strangles a middle-aged white man on the subway with a chain. From there, he butchers and rapes one straight white dude after the other, while a few different storylines play out. To be clear, this film doesn’t really have a clear protagonist or one key narrative thread. In other words, unlike other slasher films, there’s really no final girl or final boy here worth rooting for. While there are some nasty kills here and a lot of rape, this feature is more interested in conversations about a host of political and social issues.

Podcast commentaries follow each murder with some hosts defending Poundcake as some sort of avenger for the oppressed, while others express shock and dismay. This is one of the most interesting aspects of the film, as the reactions to the headlines tap into the current cultural reckoning occurring right now and the questioning of history and our teaching of it. Further, the conversations underscore some of the divisions among marginalized communities, with one side constantly pointing a finger at the other.

There’s another layer here regarding two Black parents, Ben (Ron Brice) and Tisha, who have wildly different reactions to the fact their son Fabian (Sean Mejia) is gay. Not only is he gay, but his partner Mario (Frantzdy Alexandre) proudly declares that he’s anti-capitalist. Ben pounds his fist on the table and lashes out at this fact and his son’s sexual identity. The conversation Ben and Tisha have later about Fabian’s sexuality is one of the most human moments in the film, pushing it beyond the sometimes too shallow satire. It’s endearing to watch Tisha defend her son, especially against Ben’s anger and bewilderment. This feature really needed more of these quieter, character-driven moments to elevate it beyond the messaging.

I have no doubt that Poundcake won’t be for everyone, and in fact, it’s going to alienate a lot of horror fans. Tukel can be fearless in his satire and sometimes, too in your face.  Still, there are many important conversations contained in this satirical slasher, especially regarding freedom of speech. During a time when curriculum is being banned in states like Florida, specifically the writing of queer Black authors, we need more art willing to push the boundaries and address important issues. We also need to listen to the other side. Here’s a feature at least willing to start the discussion. It’s unlikely Poundcake will birth a new slasher icon, but, at the very least, it’ll inspire some interesting conversations.

6.5 Out of 10