No one knows Dr. Barry Neal's intentions about that pathological specimen called Elena. Through a new mission for Neil, he tries to understand Elena's abilities, which seem very poetic. Neil will be sedated to be in a rigid and steady state, but the girl is still trying to escape from the isolated place where she was held. Perhaps it will be mysterious and mysterious and perhaps no one knows the doctor's undisclosed intentions.
"Beyond the Black Rainbow" has a doomy, dreamy, druggy, draggy feel that's impressively sustained - until it becomes oppressive, then pointless, then laughable.
A film for people who might call Stalker their favorite movie of all time if only it were more opaque. So, you know, a little audience, but a passionate one.
The movie looks like it was lit by lava lamps, scored on Moog synthesizers, written between bong hits and acted underwater. None of this is meant as praise.
Audiences who appreciate oddball first efforts from talents such as Lynch (Eraserhead), Cronenberg (Shivers) and Jeunet (Delicatessen) will be thankful.
The rich and strange debut of Panos Cosmatos throbs with style and portent, which proves a winning combination even if it is somewhat light in the narrative department.
Close-ups of a needle penetrating gnarled toes and a mutant slathered in what I choose to believe is bittersweet chocolate make as much sense as the scary drawings of angry vulvas hiding in a drawer.
Laramie Movie Scope
December 04, 2012
Nothing much happens in this experimental-type science fiction horror film. What little does happen is at a slow-motion snail's pace.
