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Rating: 8.5 stars

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logan theater chicago cinema society PatS Chicago

Seen 1 time

Seen on: 06/22/2012

View on: IMDb | TMDb

Beyond the Black Rainbow (2010)

Directed by Panos Cosmatos

Science Fiction | Thriller | Mystery

Most recently watched by krazykat, sensoria, Javitron

Overview

Deep within the mysterious Arboria Institute, a disturbed and beautiful girl is held captive by a doctor in search of inner peace. Her mind controlled by a sinister technology. Silently, she waits for her next session with deranged therapist Dr. Barry Nyle. If she hopes to escape, she must journey through the darkest reaches of The Institute, but Nyle wonʼt easily part with his most gifted and dangerous creation.

Rated R | Length 110 minutes

Actors

Ronald Reagan | Scott Hylands | Chris Gauthier | Michael Rogers | Marilyn Norry | Rondel Reynoldson | Gerry South | Eva Allan | Ryley Zinger | Geoffrey Conder

Viewing Notes

I met my friend Pat in Chicago at the Logan Theater for a special two night only screening of this movie, put on by the Chicago Cinema Society. It took me a little over an hour to drive the 50 miles into the city for the 11 p.m. screening. I arrived a little early and good thing too, because it ended up being a packed screening.

I wanted to comment a little about the audience before getting into what I thought of the film. I’m pretty sure I was the oldest person in the screening, which is a little weird for me, because I don’t think of myself as that old. It became more obvious as the movie progressed though. About six people got up and left, never to return, at some point during the movie. Add to that at least a dozen, if not more, people who at some point during the film got up and left the theater and then returned. And last but most annoyingly, was the couple who were separated, the girl sitting next to me and the boy sitting two rows ahead, who were TEXTING EACH OTHER DURING THE FUCKING MOVIE. Thankfully they left about half way through as well.

So annoying. I really have pretty simple rules I think people should abide by while watching a movie in a theater. Sit down, shut up, keep your electronic shit off in your pocket and stay through the credits. Yes, there are exceptions to those rules, but in general, do that and enjoy yourself without annoying those around you. Pretty damned simple.

Anyway.

I loved the hell out of the movie. Strangely, it wasn’t nearly as weird as I felt it was going to be. My bar for weird is pretty up there these days given some of the stuff I’ve seen, so I’m not faulting Black Rainbow for failing to meet my expectations. Honestly, I was trying to approach the movie with no real expectations at all, but it was a bit difficult.

Despite that, I still loved the movie a lot. It certainly felt like an homage to the sort of intelligent sci-fi that had its heyday back in the 1970s; crossed with the weirdness of B-movie sci-fi/horror. I also noted definite nods to William S. Burroughs’ Naked Lunch (there was a pretty pointed reference to Dr. Benway in relation to some medication one of the characters took).

Another point of reference seemed to be the odd ‘70s sci-fi of Communist East Germany, specifically a movie I saw in the last year called Eolomea. Eolomea, while socialist in nature politically, is also more of an intellectual sci-fi and certainly shares some of the visual elements present in Black Rainbow.

I guess there has been some backlash and grumbling about the ending, given that it’s a pretty abrupt change in style visually to the rest of the film. Some comments have been that the director intended the ending to be a slap in the face, or an insult, to the viewer.

I didn’t view it that way at all. The movie is so incredibly odd, and has such a unique visual language, that I don’t think there was any particular way I felt the movie should have ended.

It’s definitely a movie I want to watch again: to spend more time examining the visual style and to look for other cultural references.

All-in-all, it was a fun night and I’m glad I took the trouble to drive into Chicago to see it!

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