Realising that she is a necrophiliac at an early age, a teenager takes a job at a local mortuary and satisfies herself with the corpses, but things get complicated when a young man (who is alive) romances her in this unusual Canadian drama. While the way she pleasures herself with the cadavers feels very mild (especially compared to something like 'Nekromantik'), there much to like in how sympathetic a perspective the film manages to offer on a person with unusual deep desires, with some philosophical voice-over narration at the start of the film helping in particular to get under her skin. The way the narration keeps surfacing every now and again during the remainder of the film is at times a little jarring, but again it really helps one get inside the girl's mindset and Molly Parker is fantastic in the role. Peter Outerbridge is less impressive as her needy boyfriend. He has an unforgettable final scene that truly captures his devotion to her and extreme desire to understand her, however, at times he only seems to exist in the narrative as an outlet (i.e. someone to whom Parker can confess everything that she does). More scenes dedicated to Parker's childhood may have helped us understand her more too, but clocking in at a very economical 78 minutes as it though, the film certainly never outstays its welcome - which is quite important here given the social taboo subject matter.

Maybe the greatest achievement of the film is that it was able to deal with an subject such as necrophilia without falling into tastelessness. It's easy getting horrified at the idea of people being sexually attracted for corpses, but the relationship of mankind with death (That primigenial and fascinating fear) can go that far and, if you think of it, it goes way far beyond . If you are not willing to get into any reflexions about how the dead are treated, you may fell uneasy about the film. The contrast between Sandra and the other people manipulating bodies (the teachers, the embalmer) is rather eloquent.But what I personally liked the best about it is how it figures relationships, elucidating the insane need of one not having the other have its own and private corner, the need of forcing the other to share it, and the woe that comes from not being able to stand it. In this line, necrophilia becomes just an excuse.

This film has a very haunting, thoughtful and beautiful feel to it. The first time I saw it was at a midnight showing in the only theater willing to show it in my city (Riverside, soCal). I was totally in awe at the simplicity of the direction, the quiet, slow pace and the really great, understated, naturalistic acting. I'm studying film-making (film editing in particular) and I appreciate it now for yet more reasons. God, I wish they'd release a DVD. Kissed is one of my favorite movies of all time due to it's (seemingly) effortless yet complicated emotional tone, it's respectful and questioning treatment of it's subject matter and main character, but after all the analysis (for me) the most important and enduring aspect of Kissed is the simple, intangible emotions it quietly and slowly draws out of me. That makes it a successful and wonderful movie, in my opinion.

I commend the filmmakers for attempting to put on screen such a difficult subject matter as necrophilia with integrity and complexity. To its credit, the movie creates a pretty accurate depiction of one of the forms of necrophilia: the gentle curiosity and obsession with freshly dead corpses. This is relieving, because the other two forms aren't quite as viewer friendly. However, there is a reason why more films aren't made about necrophiliac protagonists. They are very hard to empathize with. This film makes no real attempt at allowing us to connect to with Sandra, and as a result it is not so much a journey we share with her but instead one that we simply observe. Like watching a movie through scratched glass. Not to mention the altogether contrived relationship that emerges in the later half of the film.So if you're looking for an accurate depiction of necrophilia, go for it. If you're looking for some compelling drama or something to watch on a date, you may find yourself needing a stiff drink.