Possessor, 2020 (A+)
A film about a group doing assassinations by having the assassin controlling a person through an implant.
Absolutely outstanding. First off, Cronenberg's son is good. Like, really good. You can feel David's influence on him, but you never get the sense that he's just copying his father. There's a certain sensibily and a way of approaching the material that carries through from the father, but with entirely different means and a vibe that is clearly distinct.
The film itself is very violent. Shockingly so. I'm reminded of Strange Days in that sense, or the bar scene in Near Dark. There is no aestheticization of what is happening whatsoever. The camera sometimes moves away from it, and that helps things from steering into the pornographic. Impact is what is sought, first and foremost, in each violent scene. There is also sex, but no sexual violence. Those two things are kept apart.
It's hard to describe any of the events without going into spoilers, but this is a sublime movie. It is intense and visceral, and it will probably make you wince. I would say that if you liked Strange Days, this one should be up your alley. You would never guess how early in his career the director is from watching this. It has the level of visual flair you would expect from someone Refn.
Mild epilepsy warning.
A film about a group doing assassinations by having the assassin controlling a person through an implant.
Absolutely outstanding. First off, Cronenberg's son is good. Like, really good. You can feel David's influence on him, but you never get the sense that he's just copying his father. There's a certain sensibily and a way of approaching the material that carries through from the father, but with entirely different means and a vibe that is clearly distinct.
The film itself is very violent. Shockingly so. I'm reminded of Strange Days in that sense, or the bar scene in Near Dark. There is no aestheticization of what is happening whatsoever. The camera sometimes moves away from it, and that helps things from steering into the pornographic. Impact is what is sought, first and foremost, in each violent scene. There is also sex, but no sexual violence. Those two things are kept apart.
It's hard to describe any of the events without going into spoilers, but this is a sublime movie. It is intense and visceral, and it will probably make you wince. I would say that if you liked Strange Days, this one should be up your alley. You would never guess how early in his career the director is from watching this. It has the level of visual flair you would expect from someone Refn.
Mild epilepsy warning.