I went to go see Choke a while back on limited release at the Arclight in Hollywood and I liked it. I’ve already read the book a number of times, loved it and was curious to see the most recent Chuck Palahniuk adaptation on the big screen.

Naturally, comparisons will be made to David Fincher‘s iconic take on Palahniuk’s Fight Club, the novel that first put the author on the map. Whereas FC was glossy and full of fantasy sequences that blurred the line between reality and some alternative universe that existed solely in the mind of the main character, Choke is grounded in reality with an actual gritty look and feel to it—in contrast to the slick, CGI-filled rollercoaster ride of escapism that FC provided on the big screen.

I think it’s this realistic realism (the kind of realism that comes from showing what actual heroin addicts look like versus the “heroin chic” supermodels who peppered the ads of fashion magazines in the mid to late 90s) in which Choke finds its greatest strength.

The movie is an hour and 40 minutes and even though I felt that the pacing kept the movie from ever dragging, I actually think it could have been a little longer—allowing Victor to give a little more back story and do more strange introverted contemplation. I definitely would have loved to see a little more of Angelica Huston in flashback sequences, relishing her stylish 70s persona in an get-up that made her look like a dark Carmen Sandiego, complete with a dramatic fedora, eyeliner and fingerless leather gloves.

All in all, the script mostly stayed true to the original story, if I’m remembering it correctly, except for maybe the ending. I’m pretty sure the outcome of the film was softer and more optimistic than the one from the novel.

I really enjoyed the actors in the film and I think that because it was co-written, directed and also co-starred actor Clark Gregg, great detail was paid to the performances. Sam Rockwell embodied the role of Victor Mancini with the skill of a character actor who can by turns be ordinary, ugly, fascinating and inexplicably attractive. Rockwell made his eyes bulge and his veins throb each time Victor purposely jammed a hunk of food down his throat. His inglorious sex scenes with fellow sexual compulsive Nico made me feel as if I could smell the typical public bathroom odors that wafted past the couple copulating on the hard, unforgiving tile.

I was particularly curious to see how my favorite scene—the rape fantasy episode—would be treated. I laughed out loud when I got to see it played out on the big screen, which was a high point in the movie for me.

All in all, I definitely think it’s worth going to the movies to see. Throw your hard-earned dollars at Choke, if you’re lucky enough to be within range of its limited release.