Don't Look Now

"+ A horror movie that explores rather than exploits. It's crafted in such a way that juxtaposes the objective outside world with the internal states of the characters. There's richness in some scenes where the filmmakers mix straightforward film shots, poetic sequences, and superimposed effects to create that effect. The film is a strong work of drama in its own right, but it's also highly symbolic without falling too deeply into abstract realms of thought, not unlike The Dead Zone with Christopher Walken. Its approach to tackling the subject of grief is dignified and doesn't lose the eerie thread necessary in presenting the supernatural elements that add to the overall tone of the movie. The lead performances by Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland are perfect. They handle the subject of two parents dealing with the grief of losing a child with sensitivity and tact, really losing themselves in the roles yet not overplaying it. I also love the strange 70s/80s sound-mix and soundtrack that should feel dated, but works perfectly. There is something about both of the films I have seen from Nicolas Roeg (the other being The Witches) where the movie should feel dated in terms of style and or effects, but it works in such a way that what would ordinarily be perceived as quaint and prevent me from suspending disbelief actually adds to the artistic feel of the overall tone of the movie. This is how you do horror: By taking real life internal conditions and using it as a mirror to reflect what lives within every person and confronting that person with their innermost fears. No shock scares or boogymen are necessary. Our most basic fears will suffice. - Like The Witches, the dated elements are really weaknesses that are also made into strengths (such as the style of the time in which it was made) and yet, it adds to its own world in such a curious way. Overall: I can't praise this one enough. Quality horror that doesn't overdo it, quality performances, great work of art."

"Spooktober: I found this movie disorienting whether because it simply was disorienting or because I watched it not too long after waking up on a new medication and my constant need to try to figure it all out made me realize how much issue I take with being disoriented in movies and brought me back to a conversation I had with my wife where she said that she can just vibe with a movie and not try to figure everything out and in contrast how much issue I have doing that."

"Most heartbreaking beautiful pieces of horror filmmaking and films in general, still haven’t seen anything more haunting or moving than this film"

"Was it just me or was this movie impossible to follow/understand?"

"The ending will stay with you forever"

"This would be a brilliant film about a struggling marriage even if there was no horror in it. "