Is this the most degrading show on Netflix? 365 Days comes under fire for ‘glamorizing rape’

Netflix is facing a growing backlash to its streaming of movie 365 Days after viewers suggested it ‘perpetuates and promotes rape culture’. 

Billed as the next 50 Shades of Grey, Polish film 365 DNI, also known as 365 days, tells the story of Laura Biel (Anna-Maria Sieklucka) who is kidnapped and imprisoned on a holiday to Sicily by mafia boss Massimo Torricelli (Michele Morrone).

On Thursday singer Duffy wrote a letter to Reed Hastings, the CEO of Netflix, appealing to the service to use their influence ‘more responsibly’. And viewers online appear to agree with many suggesting it ‘glorifies kidnapping and sex trafficking’.

Grammy-winning singer Duffy, 35, who recently disclosed her own experience of being raped, drugged, and kidnapped, explains to Hastings why she feels that the glamorisation of kidnapping in 365 Days is dangerous.

She says the movie treats ‘the serious crime of kidnapping and sex trafficking’ as ‘erotic entertainment.’

Journalist Megan McGibney agreed, saying it was ‘disturbing that this movie was ever made in the first place’ and writing: ‘It’s getting bad reviews on IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes for those same reasons.’ 

The streaming service has not yet commented on the criticisms.  

Netflix is facing a growing backlash to its streaming of movie 365 Days after viewers suggested it ‘perpetuates and promotes rape culture

Billed as the next 50 Shades of Grey the Polish film 365 DNI, also known as 365 days, tells the story of 'fiery executive' Laura Biel (Anna-Maria Sieklucka) who is kidnapped and imprisoned on a holiday to Sicily by mafia boss Massimo Torricelli (Michele Morrone)

Billed as the next 50 Shades of Grey the Polish film 365 DNI, also known as 365 days, tells the story of ‘fiery executive’ Laura Biel (Anna-Maria Sieklucka) who is kidnapped and imprisoned on a holiday to Sicily by mafia boss Massimo Torricelli (Michele Morrone)

Another viewer said: ‘365 Days on Netflix is glorifying kidnapping, sexual/physical assault, and Stockholm syndrome. There is nothing romantic or sexy about this movie at all. Rape isn’t f***ing sexy. Bull**** movies like this perpetuate rape culture.’ 

One commented:  ‘“365 days” promotes rape and stockholm syndrome and y’all be like’, followed by the loveheart emoji. 

Another said: ‘365 Days is literally glorifying predatory behaviour, kidnapping, rape culture and domestic abuse. How the f*** do some of y’all think this is sexy.’

Singer Duffy wrote a letter to the CEO of Netflix, appealing to the service to use their influence 'more responsibly'. And viewers online appear to agree with many suggesting the movie 'glorifies kidnapping and sex trafficking'

Singer Duffy wrote a letter to the CEO of Netflix, appealing to the service to use their influence ‘more responsibly’. And viewers online appear to agree with many suggesting the movie ‘glorifies kidnapping and sex trafficking’

Fans had said it was the ‘hottest thing ever’ and ‘made Fifty Shades of Grey look PG,’ but critics have accused the creators of ‘romanticizing’ a dangerous relationship between a captor and victim. 

One person wrote on Twitter: ‘Where is the petition to get Netflix to boycott 365 days and stop selling this trash that is clearly mysoginistic [sic] to young teenage girls and boys? Clearly the only reason it is popular is cos it’s an attractive lead doing all the raping and other non-consensual behavior.

‘I cannot f***ing believe Netflix is selling this content as if it is absolutely normal.

Grammy-winning singer Duffy, 35,  recently disclosed her own experience of being raped, drugged, and kidnapped

Grammy-winning singer Duffy, 35,  recently disclosed her own experience of being raped, drugged, and kidnapped

‘@netflix Please, it is my absolute humble request, take 365 days down before this content influences other men to believe that women like this s***.’ 

Another wrote: ‘i watched 365 days bc my coworker suggested it. literally 5 minutes into it, i felt really f***ing uncomfortable. this movie is literally the worst i’ve ever seen. it glorifies rape, sexual assault, kidnapping, stalking, sex trafficking, pedophilia……’     

After landing on Netflix last month the film became the subject of widespread social media discussion thanks to its controversial depiction of sex between a kidnapper and his victim. 

The storyline of the movie is based on the first book of a trilogy by Polish author Blanka Lipińska in which character Laura does not expect that on a trip to Sicily trying to save her relationship, Massimo will kidnap her and give her 365 days to fall in love with him. 

Duffy has noted that fans of the movie have recently been seen ‘pleading’ to leading actor Morrone to kidnap them.

She penned: ‘I encourage the millions who have enjoyed the movie to reflect on the reality of kidnapping and trafficking, of force and sexual exploitation, and of an experience that is the polar opposite of the glossy fantasy depicted.’ 

Clinical psychologist Dr. Goali Saedi Bocci said: ‘There is clearly quite a bit of misunderstanding about sexual consent and assault and such films only continue to muddy the waters.

‘We have to be extra cautious of the media we consume because, like it or not, these things get into our subconscious.’ 

But fan Susana Rodriguez, 33, of Houston, told The New York Times: ‘Yes, it does romanticize Stockholm syndrome, but it’s just a movie.

‘Other movies have killers and people getting killed, but they’re not protesting those movies. It’s 2020. We need to separate fiction from reality.’

After landing on Netflix last month the film became the subject of widespread social media discussion thanks to its controversial depiction of sex between a kidnapper and his victim

After landing on Netflix last month the film became the subject of widespread social media discussion thanks to its controversial depiction of sex between a kidnapper and his victim

Fans had said it was the 'hottest thing ever' and 'made Fifty Shades of Grey look PG,' but critics have accused the creators of 'romanticizing' a dangerous relationship

Fans had said it was the ‘hottest thing ever’ and ‘made Fifty Shades of Grey look PG,’ but critics have accused the creators of ‘romanticizing’ a dangerous relationship

The storyline of the movie is based on the first book of a trilogy by Polish author Blanka Lipińska in which character Laura does not expect that on a trip to Sicily trying to save her relationship, Massimo will kidnap her and give her 365 days to fall in love with him

The storyline of the movie is based on the first book of a trilogy by Polish author Blanka Lipińska in which character Laura does not expect that on a trip to Sicily trying to save her relationship, Massimo will kidnap her and give her 365 days to fall in love with him

365 Days has already made headlines with its incredible graphic sex scenes between the two lead characters, with one seeing Laura tied up in a room so she can watch Massimo have a steamy encounter with a sex worker.

In one of the movie’s most memorable scenes the pair finally have sex in a boat as Laura begins to fall under Massimo’s spell.

But their dysfunctional relationship doesn’t always run smoothly, as Massimo lashes out at Laura by dragging her into the bedroom after she sees one of his exes at a function.  

One person wrote: ‘Please remember that there is a huge difference between fantasy and reality. If you are a guy, please don’t get any ideas. 

‘No girl wants to be kidnapped and made to fall in love.’

Meanwhile, another viewer, tweeted: ‘It romanticizes harassment (which is so messy by the way), there’s Stockholm syndrome (which is a mental condition from which a victim falls in love with her abductor and should not be normalized).’  

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk