‎Choke (2008) directed by Clark Gregg • Reviews, film + cast • Letterboxd

Choke

2008 Directed by Clark Gregg

From the author of Fight Club

A sex-addicted con-man pays for his mother's hospital bills by playing on the sympathies of those who rescue him from choking to death.

Sam Rockwell Anjelica Huston Kelly Macdonald Brad William Henke Clark Gregg Bijou Phillips Gillian Jacobs Jonah Bobo Paz de la Huerta Viola Harris Joel Grey Heather Burns Matt Gerald David Fonteno Kate Blumberg Matt Malloy Isiah Whitlock Jr. Mary B. McCann Peggy Pope Suzanne Shepherd Chuck Palahniuk Yolonda Ross

92 mins More details at IMDb TMDb Report this film

Popular reviews

Review by Holly-Beth 👀 ★★★

i really didn't need this movie to tell me that sam rockwell is christ's second coming....

i already knew that thanks
Review by Simone ★★★★½ 13

Film #58 of The December Project

As a huge fan of dark comedies, weird love stories, Sam Rockwell, and Fight Club (this film is based on a book by the same author), this was pretty much a favorite waiting to happen for me. It would've taken much more effort NOT to like this film than to like it. I haven't read the book so I have no idea how well it captures the spirit/tone of the novel, but I found the film version hilarious, thought-provoking, and profound.

Here you've got a man named Victor (Sam Rockwell) trying to beat his sex addiction by going to meetings regularly with his best friend Denny. They both work at one of those historical…
Review by Silent J ★★★★

Sam Rockwell + Chuck Palahniuk + directed by Agent Coulson = One fucking stellar combination
Review by Matthew L. Brady ★★★½ 1

This may sound strange, but Sam Rockwell choking on food is really compelling.
Review by Jamie ★★★★ 1

Film #2 Of The December Project

Why hasn't Clark Gregg directed anything else since Choke?

It has a perfect mix of quirky, funny, and heart, great performances and an excellent script adapted from Chuck Palahniuk's novel. The film also has a very strong narrative voice, with the character of Victor played excellently by the ever-reliable Sam Rockwell.

The story constantly twists and turns, and goes to some really surprising and interesting directions that I really hadn't expected from a film about a sex addict who pretends to choke himself to scam people's money.

It strangely reminded me of a mix between the Coen Brother's 'A Serious Man' and Jonze and Kaufman's 'Adaptation'. Overall, it was a really good little movie, and I really need to check out the book after I finish my basically never-ending list of books I have piled up on my shelf.
Review by Cameron Kanachki ★★★★★

Fucking brilliant. Sam Rockwell is absolutely fantastic.

Recent reviews

Review by Simon Lang ★★

Dass die Verfilmung eines Romans von Kult-Autor Chuck FIGHT CLUB Palahniuk nicht zwangsläufig sehenswert ausfallen muss, beweist bedauerlicherweise dieses Werk. Trotz einem wie immer gut aufgelegten Sam Rockwell, können die dramaturgischen und inszenatorischen Mängel von CHOKE nicht ausgebügelt werden. Schade, denn Potenzial wäre vorhanden gewesen, aber hey, Clark Gregg ist halt nicht David Fincher.
Review by Pietje101 ★★

Sam Chokewell
Review by BackAllyScroo

... so when are they going to adapt Lullaby?
Review by unoken

sex-addict comedy
Review by Higgins ★★★

From the abstract mind of writer Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club) comes a truly odd story of a man trying to find himself through his addiction to sex and his penchant for choking himself for profit. Victor Mancini (Sam Rockwell) cons people by choking on food in hopes to be rescued by a follow diner. Once saved, the saviors generally look after their patient with gifts. This sets the stage for a story about Victor’s journey into the truth, which hides behind his insatiable desire for meaningless sex. There are some interesting characters, some good writing and some decent directing. When there’s nothing to root for however, all you have is an interesting bitter pill. Without reading the source material, it’s pretty easy to see that some novels were not meant for the screen. This is one of them.
Review by I D ★★★

Why did Clark Gregg direct this movie? Seems like the most random bit of trivia.
He did ok but I think it could have been a better movie if it had an auteur’s touch. The flashback scenes were pretty hack with the maudlin strings stirring up every time.
For how much darkness about addiction there is bubbling under the surface there is a light, whimsical tone which contradicts that darkness. I don’t think it was a juxtaposition as much as poor filmmaking. Haha sex! (see Paul Schrader’s Autofocus for an example of where I think this juxtaposition works).
I read the book back in high school when Fight Club was cool and remember liking it but that was a long…
Review by Ruslan ★★

Одна из самых нелюбимых книг Паланика. Фильм снят дословно, да еще и в тв-шной стилистике. Главный плюс, сиськи Гиллиан Джейкобс.
Review by Raoul Groothuizen ★★

Its really impressive how actor/director Clark Gregg transformed Chuck Palahniuk's dark, nihilistic novel about sex addiction, dementia and child abuse into a very lighthearted romantic comedy.

And with 'impressive' I actually mean 'horrible'.
And with 'transformed" I actually mean 'butchered'.

Clark Gregg totally deserved to be killed by Loki in the Avengers.
Review by Matthew L. Brady ★★★½ 1

This may sound strange, but Sam Rockwell choking on food is really compelling.