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dennisbartok
Reviews
La belle bête (2006)
Haunted Silence and Emotional Horrors
Director Karim Hussain's LA BELLE BETE, adapted from a book by acclaimed novelist Marie- Claire Blais, feels like a great Louis Malle or Eric Rohmer film from the 1970's that somehow slipped through the cracks. Austere and pared-to-the-bone, both visually and emotionally, the story focuses on the insanely-screwed up relationship between an aging (but still sexy) mother, her oddball daughter, and the beautiful man/boy of a son that they both long to possess and control. Suffice to say this is NOT Norman Rockwell's vision of a happy family. Terrific performances all around in three very difficult roles aided by Hussain's carefully calibrated direction and cinematography (he also served as DP on the film.) A dense, poetic and emotionally harrowing film, this one is well worth the effort.
The Abandoned (2006)
Insanely scary and terrifically atmospheric chiller in Lucio Fulci mode
Spanish director Nacho Cerda's THE ABANDONED is like the beautiful, unholy marriage of Lucio Fulci (circa THE BEYOND) and Russian art-house master Andrei Tarkovsky -- if that sounds like some high-falutin' pretentious art/horror movie, think again: this film is so downright terrifying I spent half the movie with my hands over my eyes, and my brother confirmed it's one of the scariest flicks he's ever seen. Cerda conjures up a classic Haunted House from Hell (or in this case, the Russian countryside) scenario, and then wrings about as many shocks and spinetingling moments out of it as (in)humanly possible. Some amazing, ear-shredding sound design also adds to the scare factor. Mucho credit goes to main screenwriter Karim Hussain for creating a storyline that is at once enigmatic in an unfolding, puzzle-box kind of way and also emotionally resonant and intense. Again, if you long for the days of classic Fulci shockers with a strong dose of PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK/THE LAST WAVE dreamlike vibe thrown in -- check this one out. A winner all the way.