Though well regarded among aficionados of the genre ‘Don’t Look Now’ is often
unjustly overlooked by modern audiences. This is a damn shame, as the only ones
they’re cheating be themselves.Don't Look Now
Plot:
After losing their young daughter in a drowning accident, a couple meets two sisters who claim to be in contact with her. Far from comforting reunions, these séances contain dire warnings concerning the murders haunting Venice.
Comments:
Though well regarded among aficionados of the genre ‘Don’t Look Now’ is often
unjustly overlooked by modern audiences. This is a damn shame, as the only ones
they’re cheating be themselves.
‘Don’t’ is an intelligent tale well told. The cinematography is totally amazing. The masterful employment of setting is breathtaking, as is the use of water and blood symbolism. There’s no denying that the film is gorgeous to behold, but more importantly it is imminently gripping. Fragmented scenes build a palpable sense of unease, and the eerie locale of Venice with its fog, cathedrals, and catacombs adds immeasurable ookyness to the production.
The story, while abstract and hard to follow is captivating. Pitch perfect acting conveys the day-to-day sense of emptiness and grief our characters carry with them. Perhaps the most brilliant touch is the peripheral nature of the horror. As in reality, the unfolding series of murders is not the central focus of the couple's lives, but instead hovers around fringes of their world. Some might complain that the film drags a bit, but what may seem to be plot cul-de-sacs are actually tools employed to heighten the sense of “otherness”. (And of course to add more pieces to a fascinating puzzle.)
My
only complaint is a protracted and graphic sex scene between Sutherland and
Christie. Though perhaps intended to convey the couple's passion for one
another, it instead comes across as artless and sleazy.
The film is Italian in every sense of the word. Light on linear cohesive narrative, the film instead focuses on mood and direction. Nicolas Roeg uses a series of odd non sequitur scenes to elevate the film above mere storytelling and into the realm of pure art. In this haunting world, reality and time overlap in on themselves, creating an ethereal dream state which seems to have neither a beginning nor an end.
Despite any weaknesses, this film is simply a beautiful nightmare.
8.0