‘8 Days’ film review: Intense, emotion reality check on human trafficking horrors

While human trafficking is a global problem, America seems to be apathetic and asleep at the wheel. Washington doesn’t seem serious in the battle against this epidemic of human exploitation.

A new film, 8 Days, attempts to shake viewers out of their hibernation to engage their local comunity to fight the sex slave market.

Set in white suburbia, Amber sets out with some friends to party by duping her parents. When things go wrong, she finds herself in the darkest horror imaginable without an escape in sight.

With a meager backstory to set up the lifelong prostitutes, filmmaker Jaco Booyens keep the audience rooted in Amber’s nightmare with perfectly timed cut aways and a series events which break a parent’s heart – how could you save her?

This is no high priced Hollywood film, but accomplishes the goal of raising awareness through the conversations which start when the film ends. The core group of actors pull of their roles, but a weak a supporting cast is distracting at times.

There is a PSA nature to the end of the film, which was almost unnecessary, but I did like the TV interviews as a post-script the film.

Overall 8 Days receives 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Contrasting Taken by bringing the attention back home to the US, 8 Days conveys a great scenario which says: “this can happen to anyone” so what will you do…what is your one thing to prevent it from happening in your community.

For Christian viewers: Booyens goes to exteme lengths to portray this world as real. There is some cursing, but nothing profane and there is no nudity (trust me, it’s worse by “not seeing” the horrors)

Add a star for teens and teachers of youth – this a “must see” for the education alone.

Get more inforation, watch the trailer or find a local screening: http://www.8daysfilm.org/