Watch Crave

Crave, released in 2012, is a dark and gritty thriller that explores the chaotic psyche of a disturbed, reclusive photographer named Aiden (Josh Lawson). In his dead-end job at a crime scene photography lab, Aiden spends his days developing photos of gruesome murders and violent crimes. As a result, his mind begins to unravel, and he begins to experience violent, graphic fantasies of enacting vigilante justice on the criminals he sees in his photographs.

Aiden's dreamlike fantasies begin to seep into his waking life, and his obsession with crime grows. He becomes obsessed with a pretty neighbor named Virginia (Emma Lung), and begins stalking her. Virginia tries to be friendly, but Aiden's erratic behavior begins to scare her.

One day, Aiden is mugged in the streets and injures his head. He is taken to a hospital, where he meets a charismatic detective named Pete (Ron Perlman). The two bond over a shared interest in photography, and Pete becomes a mentor to Aiden, encouraging him to take pictures that capture the beauty in the grim world around them.

Aiden's new confidence and friendship with Pete leads him to take risks he never would have before. He confronts his boss at the crime scene lab, who has been showing his photos to the police without his permission. He also defends himself when his new confidence leads him into a confrontation with a group of thugs.

As Aiden's life seems to be improving, his dark fantasies of vigilante justice begin to consume him even more. He begins acting out these fantasies in the real world, stalking and confronting criminals with dangerous and violent consequences.

Along the way, Aiden begins to question his own sanity and whether he is truly capable of the violent acts he envisions. He becomes increasingly unhinged and disconnected from the real world as he struggles to reconcile his own inner demons with the reality of his actions.

Ultimately, Crave is a thought-provoking exploration of the human psyche and the blurred line between fantasy and reality. The story is powerfully acted, particularly by Josh Lawson in a riveting, raw performance as Aiden. Emma Lung is equally adept as Virginia, a character torn between empathy for Aiden and fear of his instability. Ron Perlman gives a strong supporting performance as Pete, grounding the film with a sense of gravitas.

The cinematography is also a standout element of Crave, capturing the gray, gritty streets of Detroit with an unflinching eye. The film uses color and lighting to great effect, making the harshness of the world around Aiden feel visceral and real.

Overall, Crave is a challenging and unsettling film that delves deep into the human psyche. It's not for the faint of heart, but for viewers who are willing to confront the darker corners of the human mind, it's an engrossing watch.

Crave is a 2013 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 53 minutes. It has received poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.2 and a MetaScore of 19.