BOSTON — Sssh.com has announced that its recently released post-apocalyptic thriller, “Invictus,” has been named a Feature Semi-Finalist for the 2019 Los Angeles CineFest, as well as a Sci-Fi Category Semi-Finalist in the Winter Edition of the Toronto Alternative Film Festival.
The film’s director, Angie Rowntree, who began submitting “Invictus” to film festivals just after the release of the free mainstream version in October, says her primary goal remains to get the film in front of as many viewers as possible.
“I’m very pleased with the reception ‘Invictus’ has received and I’m optimistic that the more people who see the film, the more successful it will be in starting a conversation around the issues at the movie’s core,” Rowntree explains. “Opening a dialogue about important issues like an independent press, climate change, and government oppression is the first step to solving the underlying problems that we face as a nation today.”
Many reviewers have observed the ways in which “Invictus,” like much of Rowntree’s previous work, breaks the mold of adult filmmaking, intrepidly venturing into emotional and philosophical territory, which isn’t commonly found in erotic films.
In a two-part review of “Invictus,” reviewer Rich Moreland notes that while “‘Invictus’ doesn’t forget its adult film roots, it seldom dwells on them.”
“In a broader sense, ‘Invictus’ is a moral journey to save mankind,” Moreland adds. “‘Invictus’ paints a different picture by transcending porn’s sameness and venturing into art.”
“Invictus” presents the story of scientist Jane Darling (played by Delirious Hunter), a woman determined to combat the social and environmental decay into which the world has descended.
As she struggles to survive, she encounters Paul Young (Joeydotrawr), a journalist who escaped the government’s crackdown on the independent press. Paul joins Jane on her quest to fight back against the forces, which continue to tear the world apart.
“‘Invictus’ works as a standalone movie and raises fan expectations for story-driven pornography,” writes Patrick Parker of XCritic.com. “It’s a well-written sci-fi piece set in a beautifully filmed dystopia. Finally, a real movie that’s not afraid to show sexually explicit love scenes. Or maybe it’s a pornographic film that pushes the boundaries of plot and dialogue to be on par with mainstream filmmaking. Either way, ‘Invictus’ is something special.”
In another glowing review, Peg Aloi describes “Invictus” as a “dark-toned, post-Trumpian fable,” which has a “Walking Dead vibe, with gorgeous cinematography and top-notch love scenes.”
“It’s so gratifying when acceptance and praise come from outside the adult industry,” Rowntree adds, “because it’s something which is very, very rare to experience as a director of adult films.”
“Invictus” is under consideration for many other mainstream film festivals.
The R-rated version is available here.
An explicit version of the “Invictus” trailer can be viewed here.
