 Dir. Panos Cosmatos, Canada, 110 mins In the line of duty reviewing here at Film Gutter, I've encountered an awful lot of very different and unusual things on screen. Those absolute revelations seem to have become a rarity lately, so much so that I was starting to think to myself that there wasn't going to be a film out there that could still surprise me. Then, along came Beyond the Black Rainbow. And I can honestly say that I've never seen anything like this one in all my time. The 2010 debut from Panos Cosmatos – who recently directed the popular feature Mandy – has certainly accrued a cult following, but for all that certainly has plenty of detractors too. Still, a movie that stirs up this level of debate must have something about it, right? It's honestly hard to say too much about this one without absolutely spoiling it, and equally because the storyline in and of itself is relatively slim. The movie itself follows of Elena, a young lady who is a ‘patient’ at the Arboria Institute, led by the enigmatic Dr Barry Nyle. Nyle claims that Elena isn't well, but his diagnosis comes under increasing question as she demonstrates telekinetic powers, suggesting another purpose to the institute entirely. As we delve deeper into the history and indeed the present of the Arboria Institute, things become to slowly spin completely out of control for Nyle in both his home life and work life. Despite the relative slightness of the plot, that certainly doesn't dictate my feelings about this movie. In fact, not only was this one a genuinely original offering, it's one of the best films that I've seen in a long time – indeed it may well be among the best ever. The whole thing plays like a crazed dreamscape in oversaturated colours and bizarre imagery, dangling plenty of questions and offering just enough answers to tantalise and draw you in further as a viewer. The soundtrack is absolutely superb, adding to the surrealistic quality of what is presented, and the lead performances are genuinely brilliant. Eva Bourne's depiction of the mute Elena is simple but effective, an ethereal acting performance that elevates what could have been a really bland character, but the standout is Michael J Rogers as Dr Nyle. He has this wonderfully creepy, unsettling confidence in his actions and his dialogue throughout the whole film – watching this I couldn't help but think he'd have made an absolutely ideal Patrick Bateman were American Psycho made around this time rather than ten years before. I can get why the movie has been criticised, because it requires a certain mindset and a high degree of patience. Things do happen slowly, almost glacially so at times, but I don't think that this would work any other way. And the visuals are often so striking that I actively enjoy watching even the most languorous of scenes in the film. Honestly you'll likely know within a quarter of an hour if this is for you – you may even be best advised to check out early if you find yourself losing focus or not enjoying it at that phase, because there’s no real shift in the pace or method of delivery. But once you're in and you've immersed yourself into the strange world of Beyond the Black Rainbow, there's certainly no way you'll want to escape from it... RATING: 10/10. I'm going bold with this one – it's certainly the best film I've seen this year and must be one of the top five films I've ever seen. It's fascinating and confusing at once, gloriously colourful whilst maintaining a mood of menace and darkness, asks questions without offering many answers and leaving you craving to know more without ever feeling unsatisfied. The finale has sometimes been criticised but I absolutely loved the way that it amped up the bizarre nature of things. For me it's a movie I'm certain to be coming back to again to peel back more and more of its layers – they're there for sure, and I have a sneaking suspicion this one might just improve with repeat watching as you come to further grasp its nuances and the more hidden elements within it.    |
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