Mandy

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Andrea Riseborough, Linus Roache, Ned Dennehy, Olwen Fouere, Richard Brake, Bill Duke, Line Pillet, Clement Baronnet
Directed by: Panos Cosmatos
Rating: Not rated
Genre: Action, Fantasy, Horror
2018

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A couple (Nicolas Cage, Andrea Riseborough) face untold horrors when a dangerous cult attacks them in their secluded home.

Review:

Tim: I'm actually quite stunned that so many critics liked Mandy. It had been over two years since the last time I watched a Nicholas Cage movie. The raves I heard about this one were enough to induce me to check it out. I went in expecting something unique and effective. Unfortunately, the emotion I experienced the most during watching this movie was a desire for the movie to be over. Sure, the visuals are trippy, the violence is grotesque, but there's nothing of real substance here. This movie is vastly overrated. It felt like a big waste of my time.

I wasn't very impressed by Panos Cosmatos' visuals. Sure, they are unique- this movie doesn't look like anything else. And in this case, it's not a good thing. I understand the use of "panaflares" and the desire to make this movie look like a nightmarish alternative reality where you're never quite sure whether to believe your eyes or not. However, the other effect is that it's impossible to really see what's happening in large stretches of the film. Sure, it feels like a nightmare, but it would have been better to actually see what was depicted. It felt less like a brilliant way to show the effects of LSD and more of a way to cover up the micro budget. I hated how this movie looked because I really couldn't make out anything on screen. It ruins several scenes that could have been cool. Now, as a whole, the film is pretty gonzo. Cosmatos uses a few animation sequences and a bunch of bizarre imagery. I suppose this could be a plus if it made sense. It all kind of clumps together in a confusing jumble. Sure, maybe we're not supposed to trust our eyes, but it creates this barrier between the audience and the characters on the screen. It's simply too much and it comes across as a gimmick, rather than an extension of the story Cosmatos' is trying to tell. Sure, this unique approach creates a few cool moments (the final shot was kind of cool, even if it was ambiguous and confusing). However, it creates a frustrating viewing experience. I didn't care for Cosmatos' style.

The story itself is fairly easy to follow, as long as you're not interested in any logical questions. As cult decides to torture a couple. It goes south and the husband seeks his bloody revenge. That all makes sense and is easy to follow. But so many things are left unexplained. I'm all for keeping a story ambiguous and not providing the audience with every answer. But, there is a difference between leaving things for the audience to decide and just being confusing. This film ventures too far into the latter territory. I get the Black Skulls and the whole LSD backstory. The question in, how much of what we're seeing are just hallucinations from the tainted LSD and how much of it is some demonic supernatural force? We have no idea. It seems from the film that a bad trip couldn't explain everything here. So, some supernatural aspects exist. Unfortunately, the whole thing is so confusing that it made me less interested, rather than more. The movie almost suggests that the answers don't matter. It doesn't matter if these are demons or ordinary people. Don't ask those questions! Just sit back and watch Nicolas Cage go crazy with a silver axe! That's all that matters! I disagree. I wanted to understand more and it was frustrating beyond belief that Cosmatos kept it so purposely enigmatic. I don't think it served the film.

Now, I will admit that the highlight of the film is Cage going bananas and seeking his revenge against these monsters/men. Lots of people praised Cage's performance. I guess I give him credit for playing insane so well- there's zero doubt that the man is able to play an unhinged lunatic. His performance in that area is fantastic. But, the whole time I watched Cage here, I kept thinking- "This man has an Academy Award". Sure, the scene where he loses it in his underwear was impressive, but it still felt a little sad. Like Cage's only remaining contribution is sheer lunacy. He's good, but I didn't leave this movie feeling more impressed with him- I left it feeling sad for him. Andrea Riseborough is okay. I generally like her, but it felt like she wasn't able to contribute enough here. The rest of the supporting cast was purposely grating. It was hard to assess their performances just because we were suppose to despise them so much. I did, so I guess they get credit for that.

I'm a big fan of people doing things differently in movies. Too many films follow the same paths as those before them and it's boring. You have to give Cosmatos credit- he goes way, way beyond the beaten path. Unfortunately, I just wasn't a fan of his vision for Mandy. I think there was a way to tell a gonzo story and still make it somewhat accessible. I know I disagree with the majority of critics here, but I wasn't a fan of Mandy in the least.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 5.5



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