Film reviews

The Devils Review

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For the first time in ages, a film with an NC-17 rating is getting a decent amount of distribution in numerous cinemas. It is probably because it is being distributed under Warner Bros. Seeing a film that is NC-17 feels historic because it only happens once every few years. Each NC-17 film I have seen has had this rating primarily due to sexual scenarios. The NC-17 films I have seen in a cinema range from Blue is the Warmest Color to Killer Joe to Lust & Caution to Blonde. The Devilsopened back in 1971, and I am not surprised that it took this film just over five decades to get any release. Be ready for a sexualized ride filled with issues of betrayal and religion. Do not expect it to calm down as the vividness abounds in strange ways in The Devils.

The film gathered much controversy over the years, both before and after the release. Warner Bros was reluctant to release it on DVD due to all of the negative buzz. However, an online petition managed to get the British Film Institute (BFI) to release the 1971 X-rated cut of the movie in DVD format. The stories of conflicts and problems related to the release continue. 

However, I must get to the plot, so my readers understand what kind of ride they are in for. I recommend true cinema enthusiasts go see this movie to experience its audacity. However, go with an open mind, because you may be mortified in an amazing or disturbing way. It all depends on how your brain processes The Devils.

The year is 1634 in France. The era is during the aftermath of the Huguenot rebellions, and the French Catholic Statesman, Cardinal Richelieu (Christopher Logue) encourages King Louis XIII (Graham Armitage) to gain more control. The country and government are in shambles. There are lots of political tides and escapades. Then there is Loudon, France. Chaos is more intense there and the government has lost complete control. The one who oversees that city is Father Urban Grandier (Oliver Reed). He is a popular priest, but engages in an affair. He utilizes his religious practice to help him not feel as guilty about his wrongdoings. While he is dismissive of his choices, there is a lady in trouble. She is Sister Jeanne des Anges (Vanessa Redgrave), and she is sexually obsessed with Grandier. Grandier continues to have inappropriate relationships while still being a priest and his choices lead to destruction.

Sister Jeanne des Anges accuses Father Urban Grandier of witchcraft. That is when the movie begins to erupt with chaos. It gets erotic, violent, and chaotic. There are scenes showing a trial yet Father Urban Grandier is determined to never lose his power. The rebelliousness shown in his battle to save his reputation makes The Devils haunting. 

The film is one that is daring given the era and setting. During this time, scandalous choices were viewed as massive sins. The punishments are brutal in The Devils. At the same time, the film is artfully presented in a way that makes it unforgettable. I did not love The Devils, but I found it poetic in the way it handles the subjects of religion and faith. The sexual component, in my opinion, is way over the top. Three out of four stars for The Devils.

Film reviews

Victorian Psycho Review-62nd Chicago International Film Festival

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The year is 1858 and the director is Zachary Wigon. For some delightful, psychological laughs, he brings us Victorian Psycho. This film is a crowd pleaser at the 62nd Chicago International Film Festival. Maika Monroe will twist audiences’ minds with her performance. I found myself laughing and wishing it wouldn’t end. Victorian Psycho is one-of-a-kind.

Monroe plays Winifred Notty. She is hired as a governess for a wealthy family and reports to Mr. and Mrs. Pounds (Jason Isaacs and Ruth Wilson). Winifred does what she can to please the family, but possesses evil elements within herself. From sarcastic remarks to rude innuendos, Monroe is the master of inappropriate behavior throughout the film. There are moments when she acts out of jealousy and others when her actions are based on hatred. The wealth of the family is sickening, yet deep-down the real monster is Winifred Notty.

Zachary Wigon goes down a notch after his direction of Sanctuary. While I adore Sanctuary, I felt that Wigon expanded the overwhelming scenes into a new era that made the film more of a period piece. Victorian Psycho is festival material because of its class dynamics. The theme of envy fuels the suspense in Victorian Psycho. 

The film is not easy to explain, but the behaviors make the clock start ticking with rage. Victorian Psycho has been steady on the film festival circuit throughout the year. It has earned praise at the Cannes Film Festival, The Melbourne International Film Festival (Miff), Beyond Fest, Fantastic Fest, and is even slated to be the opener of Popcorn Frights’ Wicked Weekend in November. The mind-twisting grandeur is in trick or treat mode throughout the year. Zachary Wigon’s round of terror will make heads roll. Three-and-a-half out of four stars.

Film reviews

Clayface Review

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The setting is Gotham in this film where a DC comic/character villain is actually the good guy. It’s usually Batman territory, only difference is that this time Batman is not the focus, as Matt Hagen aka Clayface takes center stage. Directed by James Watkins, he centers solely on a character that the world knows to be a villain in the Batman universe. With a generous amount of misdirection there is a lot of vengeance that swirls in circles with Clayface. He suffers a mutation that gains him a reason forrevenge. The film is jumpy and fun, but not so much of a masterpiece.

 

Matt Hagen/Clayface is played by Tom Rhys Harries. Matt is a rising movie star with a lot going for him. Big projects are coming his way, and his name is all over the press. All of this changes though, when a mob member named Markos Szabo carves into his face with a blade. With so much going on for Matt, he is determined to get his face back. He hires a surgeon for skin treatment named Caitlyn Corr to help him. Caitlyn is played by Naomi Ackie. They work together to get Matt’s face back, and there is lots of trial and error, with the result being thathis face can mutate into practically anything.

 

Everything Matt touches begins to become a power for him. He can transform into other people, and his skin is irreversible and literally magnetic. He utilizes all of it in full-throttle mode. With losing his Hollywood golden moments, his mission now is vengeance. The question though, is one of revenge being the right thing.

 

The film spends too much time on watching melted skin through the first half—very disgusting. It took away eighty percent of the enjoyment throughout the beginning of the film for me. I was thinking that I am here to watch a movie about vengeance, not to truly keep seeing a face melt or get more destroyed. The pay off comes around eventually. I just felt that it dragged with too many special effects moments of a melting face while waiting to get to the actual crux of the picture. 

 

The name Clayface comes around because of how Matt’s face is literally made of clay—it goes in and out of all different forms. A small spoiler… when he gets angry his skin gets tighter and he looks much like normal again. This is not always the case though. The question is, can he get his life back? Can he star in Hollywood movies again? Can he track down his nemesis, Markos? He sure can. Even though the character is an enemy in the comic book series, he is truly the protagonist who is forced to be the antagonist by events that were out of his control. The film is interesting and, yes, even captivating at times. It is almost amazing, but with a bit too much quirkiness to take seriously.Two-and-a-half out of four stars for Clayface.

 

Treating cinema in many forms of art!