horror - FilmRoot

Persona (Sweden) – The Film World’s Mount Everest

Do you want to be a film connoisseur? Well you can’t be if you haven’t watched Persona. The film has been for film critics what climbing Everest is for mountaineers, it’s the peak of the film world.

Here’s a peek at the opening 5 minutes to weird you out before you read on.

Why Watch this Film?

If you want to see something mysterious. If Christopher Nolan’s Memento is level 1 mysterious film and David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive is level 2, Persona is level 3.
To move on from the early (and also brilliant) Bergman films such as Wild Strawberries – this time it’s less philosophy and more experimental
For some shocking and hilarious images – I’ll explain below!
To see the beautiful black and white cinematography – this film really stands the test of time (it could have been made yesterday)!

The Breakdown

Bergman disorientates us in the introduction to Persona. There’s a lot of noise as a small light slowly brightens. It’s a gas stove lighting in slow mo. As your concentrating on the slow-mo Bergman chucks in a still picture of a penis like a subliminal message – did you notice it in the clip above? From that point I knew this film would be unique.

I was not wrong. This film is an experience. The disorientating introduction continues with a bunch of shocking imagery such as a tarantula walking across the camera and a clip of someone hammering a nail into their hand.

Why does Bergman try and disorientate us? He disorientates us to disrupt our viewing pattern. He doesn’t want us to watch this relaxed, he wants us to be active viewers and to work hard trying to interpret the film. After the unsettling intro we are introduced to two women: a film star that doesn’t talk and a young nurse.

The nurse takes the film star to the country for treatment. Sounds normal, but it becomes quite the opposite. Alone in the countryside their characters start to merge. Are the two characters one? If so is the nurse fantasizing about being a nurse or is the film star examining her own psyche? Either way this film is a must watch!

Conclusion

What a film! If you love films that leave you dumbfounded or lost in thought Persona was made for you! It has been one of the most debated films in film history alongside Citizen Kane and has inspired the works of David Lynch among many others. If you want to consider yourself a film buff, you have to watch it!

Under the Shadow

Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

Under the Shadow is a horror film with intelligence. It layers context of the Iraq-Iran war and female oppression onto a potent horror narrative. Therefore it’s perfect if you want something more from the horror genre without skimping out on the scare tactics. Ever heard of the Djinn? You will have by the end of this film and wishing you hadn’t.

Why Watch Under the Shadow?

To see how horror can be done well outside of Hollywood and Japan
Know anything about the Iraq-Iran War? Learn something about it by watching this film!
Will be available on Netflix soon!
If you’re a mother with a kid and don’t want to sleep at night!

The Breakdown

Under the Shadow starts with a montage of pixelated footage of the Iraq-Iran war. Meanwhile, in front of an office window a woman pleads a university official to let her return to her studies. Her pleas are rejected because of her former political activity (the reason she was expelled a few years earlier). As they talk a missile crashes into a building in the distance. This is a time of conflict.

Whilst Under the Shadow is a horror film, it also carries a very important message in disguise. Shideh, our female protagonist, becomes a symbol for female oppression. She is not allowed to restart her studies because of her political activity, her husband does not trust her with their child, and she ‘generously’ gets let off of some lashings after she is caught outside without a hijab. Under the layers of the horror lie a more telling critique in the items that go missing: a doll, a book on medicine, and a fitness video. These three items represent the things Shideh (a symbol of women in Iran) cannot be or do. She cannot be a kid any more, she cannot study medicine, and she cannot workout.

Elsewhere, the camera-work is particularly impressive at adding to the tension. Around the time something fishy happens the camera starts to shake and wobble, disorientating the viewer. So when things start appearing, we can’t see very clearly, leaving more up for interpretation. My favourite scene happens half way through when Shideh wakes up from her sleep. As she sits up, the camera rotates 90 degrees to match the angle of her body sitting up. The movement is unnatural and off-putting, and leads to something even more unnatural and off-putting (as you will see ;)).

After being happy with how much Blair Witch scared me a few weeks ago, I was on a horror high. Luckily, Under the Shadow matches the potency of Blair Witch (even at 11am on a Sunday morning). Even more impressive, is that the film is clever – it carries a political message (something that most horror film’s don’t even try to convey). Therefore this one comes certified. It will also be coming to Netflix soon – so no excuses for missing out!

Thelma (Norway) – A Supernatural Coming-of-Age Story

Thelma Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

If you’re looking for a Norwegian update on Stephen King’s Carrie, you’ve come to the right place. In Thelma, just like in Carrie, there’s Christianity, madness, and strict parents. However, Thelma also boasts a lesbian awakening and enough subtlety to keep you questioning long after the ending.

From: Norway, Europe
Watch: Trailer, Amazon Buy
Next: Carrie, Gone Girl, Call Me By Your Name

The Devil’s Backbone (Spain)

The Devil’s Backbone Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

If you liked Pan’s Labyrinth you’ll love The Devil’s Backbone. It’s another great film from Guillermo del Toro set during the Spanish Civil War. The Devil’s Backbone is a horror film with depth, unlike a bunch of the horror films around today. So go ahead, watch this and let your imagination loose!

Why Watch the Devil’s Backbone?

It’s one of Guillermo Del Toro’s first and best films (he’s famous for Pan’s Labyrinth, Hellyboy, and Blade)
You want a horror film with a bit more depth than your classic slasher or psychological thriller
It’s another great movie about which plays out during the Spanish Civil War (also check out Lengua de las Mariposas and Pan’s Labyrinth)
There’s also the classic Guillermo Del Toro creations and style

The Breakdown

“What is a ghost? A tragedy condemned to repeat itself time and again? An instant of pain, perhaps. Something dead which still seems to be alive. An emotion suspended in time. Like a blurred photograph. Like an insect trapped in amber”

As the opening lines above are read, a plane flying across the night sky opens it’s bomb doors to drop bombs on a village below. One of the bombs falls into the ground, brutally injuring a young boy.

The boy was a member of a small walled sanctuary in the middle of the Spanish desert. The sanctuary is full of young boys left by men and women fighting in the Spanish Civil War. The place is run by an old woman with a wooden leg and an old man who has a love for books and curiosities (typical del Toro style). The location is like the wild west and is ripe for the spookiness that unfolds.

Del Toro perfectly stages the horror scenes. Each one follows the rhythm written by the many horror films that preceded it. There’s the first ominous sighting early on in the film which goes unnoticed by all of the characters. This reveals the ghost to us. Next, the protagonist sees the ghost and the rest of the character’s usually don’t believe him. This identifies the audience with the protagonist (we’re the only one’s who know of the ghost). Then finally, in the climax, the ghost is revealed to all.

The Conclusion

The Devil’s Backbone is one of Guillermo del Toro’s best. Just like Pan’s Labyrinth it contains a young kid living during the Spanish Civil War. However, this film is a more classic horror. Even though Pan’s Labyrinth borrows from the horror genre, The Devil’s Backbone will give you more spooks. What’s the best thing to do? Watch both!

Train to Busan (South Korea)

Train to Busan Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

This is the best Zombie Train film there is. If you love zombies (think Walking Dead, 24 days later, or World War Z) you’ll love this film. If you love train films (Snowpiercer, Transsiberian) you’ll love this film. Finally, if you love a great thriller film, you’ll also love this film. Need I say more?

As usual, best to only watch 40secs of the trailer to avoid any spoilers!

Why Watch Train to Busan?

It’s one of the good zombie films out there
It’s also a great train movie (on terms with Snowpiercer, another great South Korean film)
There’s plenty of glorious action
All complemented by some great action cinematography (mostly shot within the confines of the train carriage)

The Breakdown

Train to Busan, like many great horror movies starts with a prelude of what’s to come. A farmer drives his truck through a quarantine zone. His truck is sprayed and ushered through the quarantine. On the other side, he runs over a young deer, curses his shitty day, and drives off. The camera stays fixed on the dead deer in the road, and after a few seconds, comes back to life and limps off into the bush.

Following the dramatic opening, the film introduces us to Seok-woo, a cold office boss who doesn’t really care about his little daughter. He treats his mum like a maid and messes up his kids birthday. He even stands up his daughter when she is singing a song at a concert especially for him. What a guy! Will it take a train full of zombies to make him care for his daughter?

Conclusion

This is the best zombie train movie that I have ever seen (it’s also a great thriller). It has the typical range of characters, the genre faithful story-line, and doesn’t take it self too seriously.

What caught my eye was the great camera work within the small space of the train carriage. Most of the action is shot from within the carriage with a mix of handheld shots. But the director creates space by mixing in tracking shots from outside the train carriage (where the camera moves alongside the train) and shots looking at the other carriages. Check it out for yourself!