“American Psycho” to “Andrei Rublev”
American Psycho (2000) Christian Bale inhabits the role of Patrick Bateman whos self-obsessed, materialistic, and one of the most sadistic serial killers to grace the big screen. Absurd, sardonic, and twisted black comedy-horror has never had it so good. (GS)
An American Werewolf in London (1981) Another successful blend of horror and comedy, each complementing the other. This may be John Landis’s masterpiece. (KCL)
…And Soon the Darkness (1970) A thoroughly sinister gem, And Soon the Darkness cleverly takes all of the expected dramatic notions of a sub-genre that would soon come to dominate the horror world stalk and slash shakes them up in a bag, and then conspires to reassemble them in a most inventive and unexpected way. A few ostentatious examples of chauvinism threaten to derail the carefully built tension of the piece, but never quite manage to. Robert Fuest’s direction is fluid and amiable, and, taken as a whole, the film resembles a chill wind catching a loose filling on an otherwise warm summer day. (KT)
And Then There Were None (1945) This is a great mystery classic. Although not the same ending as Agatha Christies book Ten Little Indians, it is not lessened. Huge stars, Barry Fitzgerald, Walter Huston, Judith Anderson, make Rene Clairs B&W movie a treasure. The wit and suspense carry the viewer through to the end. The old school values of redemption, innocence, and vengeance are still relevant and poignant. But most of all, this is fun viewing! (KWR)
Andrei Rublev (1969) The Soviets were known for their censorship. They did, however, recognize genius and Andrei Tarkovsky (Solaris) got away with more than most. This iconic masterpiece was not promoted in his own homeland. Rublev was a real man, and is still regarded for his art. He did icons in medieval Russia, where cruelty abounds. He has lost his spark, and as he goes on his pilgrimage we see Mother Russia at her worst. There is much symbolism hard to do in Soviet times as he meets many living and dead along the way. It is filmed in beautiful B&W, until the quiet haunting beauty fills color finale. (KWR)
Originally published in Raspberry World – Volume 2, Issue 1 (June/July 2007)