WOW... Where do I start? Dang, I think this is THE Folk Horror film to end all Folk Horror films! :D
First off, notice with the reviews here, that they are EXTREMELY polarized. Some rate the film very high, some give it '1's & '3's. That should tell you something. Although that may seem confusing and unhelpful, what I take from that is NOT that this is either a great movie or a terrible one, but, that it is clearly a film that some will love and some will hate, simple as that. You absolutely HAVE to like these kinds of films already, or I promise you, you will just think it is very slow and boring and pointless.
So, to do my best hopefully to help clarify things let me just say that first and foremost it is a FOLK HORROR film. I mean, we're talk'n Super-Duper Folk Horror here. So, if you are the kind of person who simply does not like the vaguary and symbolism of a Folk Horror film, then yes indeed, you will find it slow and boring and you will feel that it has no point or explanation. So, if you don't care for those kinds of movies, do yourself a big favour and skip this one.
However... If you DO happen to like Folk Horror films, and you don't mind everything being very, I mean, ***VERY*** mysterious and not knowing WTF is going on, then there is a good chance you will enjoy this movie.
Imagine David Lynch dropping some acid, but at the same time taking a few Valium... That about says it. Extremely symbolic, extremely vague with many, many WTF moments. BUT... if like me you really enjoy a well crafted, moody, dark atmosphere, like an extremely Dark Fairytale, then you might just be able to sit back and let this thing wash over you.
Basically, this is ALL about mood, atmosphere, and just 'Experiencing' it. Not quite like a far-out 'Art' film, I did not find it that pretentious. But, like a lot of David Lynch's stuff, you just need to let it engulf you and carry you along.
Unlike some here, I found the acting to be quite good. Remember, the context of this movie is very Fairytale like, so I felt the performances fit the characters in this environment very well. The ONLY thing that detracts from it, and this is more of a personal, almost 'phobia' with me, is I couldn't frigg'n STAND the chess guy stuffing his face constantly while talking with the main character. I don't know WHO the hell thought that was a clever addition to the movie, but for me personally it really drove me up the wall and it was all I could do to put up with it. But again, that is probably just me and my personal neuroses : ) If it weren't for that specifically, I probably would have given this movie an '8' instead of a strong '7'
I will say that at the very end, it SORT OF explains what has been going on. Not in detail of course, but just the overall purpose. It still leaves the details and the main character's place in this story very vague and fuzzy, so please keep that in mind if you really like everything clearly explained by the end.
So, as long as you go into this film clearly knowing what to expect and if you are in for a completely WTF Surreal adventure down the Dark Rabbit Hole, AND very importantly, if you do indeed like Folk Horror films, then I think there is a good chance that you will find this one quite interesting...
First off, notice with the reviews here, that they are EXTREMELY polarized. Some rate the film very high, some give it '1's & '3's. That should tell you something. Although that may seem confusing and unhelpful, what I take from that is NOT that this is either a great movie or a terrible one, but, that it is clearly a film that some will love and some will hate, simple as that. You absolutely HAVE to like these kinds of films already, or I promise you, you will just think it is very slow and boring and pointless.
So, to do my best hopefully to help clarify things let me just say that first and foremost it is a FOLK HORROR film. I mean, we're talk'n Super-Duper Folk Horror here. So, if you are the kind of person who simply does not like the vaguary and symbolism of a Folk Horror film, then yes indeed, you will find it slow and boring and you will feel that it has no point or explanation. So, if you don't care for those kinds of movies, do yourself a big favour and skip this one.
However... If you DO happen to like Folk Horror films, and you don't mind everything being very, I mean, ***VERY*** mysterious and not knowing WTF is going on, then there is a good chance you will enjoy this movie.
Imagine David Lynch dropping some acid, but at the same time taking a few Valium... That about says it. Extremely symbolic, extremely vague with many, many WTF moments. BUT... if like me you really enjoy a well crafted, moody, dark atmosphere, like an extremely Dark Fairytale, then you might just be able to sit back and let this thing wash over you.
Basically, this is ALL about mood, atmosphere, and just 'Experiencing' it. Not quite like a far-out 'Art' film, I did not find it that pretentious. But, like a lot of David Lynch's stuff, you just need to let it engulf you and carry you along.
Unlike some here, I found the acting to be quite good. Remember, the context of this movie is very Fairytale like, so I felt the performances fit the characters in this environment very well. The ONLY thing that detracts from it, and this is more of a personal, almost 'phobia' with me, is I couldn't frigg'n STAND the chess guy stuffing his face constantly while talking with the main character. I don't know WHO the hell thought that was a clever addition to the movie, but for me personally it really drove me up the wall and it was all I could do to put up with it. But again, that is probably just me and my personal neuroses : ) If it weren't for that specifically, I probably would have given this movie an '8' instead of a strong '7'
I will say that at the very end, it SORT OF explains what has been going on. Not in detail of course, but just the overall purpose. It still leaves the details and the main character's place in this story very vague and fuzzy, so please keep that in mind if you really like everything clearly explained by the end.
So, as long as you go into this film clearly knowing what to expect and if you are in for a completely WTF Surreal adventure down the Dark Rabbit Hole, AND very importantly, if you do indeed like Folk Horror films, then I think there is a good chance that you will find this one quite interesting...