What can you say about "Traffic"? The film begins with the words “based on real events”, and ends with statistics about women in sexual slavery. Between these two plaques is a collection of purely operational scenes serving to overload history. The project touches on some interesting and even exciting ideas, but in General it is nothing more than a thriller category B.
After an ominous introduction, setting in the right way, the script reveals the main characters. Reporter Brea, her boyfriend John, as well as a friend and husband go on vacation in a house located in the mountains of California. As the plot is conveyed through exposition dialogue, it becomes clear that John works as an auto mechanic and is generally brave, Brea wants to get married, Malia's girlfriend feels lonely, and her husband Darren is disgusting and arrogant. About three-quarters of this information is completely useless, both in the review and in the film, but Traffic somehow actively muzzles it, especially in preparation for the main action.
So, after stopping at a gas station in the wilderness, which directors love so much to generate disturbing meetings, the characters arrive at the mansion, and after a while they begin to be brought by bikers-slave traders.
It's hard to understand what's wrong with "Traffic," because that's not how everything is. Of course, it is not worth scolding the film more than it deserves, but there are so many drawbacks here that you want to stop watching almost immediately. Each scene takes about twice as long as it should, the characters are mired in implausible situations and stupid decisions. Brea is probably the most sane hero, especially given her profession, but how can she be so naive and inert? John doesn't feel right for her partner, etc.
What's next? Let’s assume that Trafficking is really trying to cover human trafficking in a serious way. Then why did they add endless theatrical scenes without the subject matter? Why isn't there a story about women in such a terrible situation? Why are the villains here the worst caricature of the outback? There are a lot of questions, no answers and it seems that the topic is added here insofar as it is. I mean that even a fierce “black” would reveal the topics of trafficking in women and sexual slavery, well, somehow broader.
Paula Patton, the lead actor, also produced the film, so it seems she believed in the story. However, the actress needs a strong director who would shape these feelings into something convincing. The director of “Traffica” has created something clumsy and unfocused.
While the creators may have had good intentions, this thriller is ultimately ineffective, unpleasant and silly. In trying to convey a serious message, the film definitely fails because of situations that are clearly impossible in real life, and finally because of the characters who behave at least stupidly. And when tense moments begin, the characters finally upset their actions. The plot twist turns out to be mediocre, and "Traffic" does not even work as "torture porn" - the hope of abuse of women here at the level of a television movie. Even the flirtation of “Traffic” with the facts about human trafficking looks a little disgusting: this is clearly not the material that is needed for “entertainment” movies.
3 out of 10