This movie is very intriguing, and also very long at almost two hours. The drama that unfolds from the beginning is very well done, and the actors involved do an excellent job for the most part. There is a lot of tension, and give the nature of this film, a lot of moral questions raised .Unfortunately, it goes on far too long with little to no payoff. The story fails to be cohesive, and characters fail to stay in their role. Most disappointing, the ending explains nothing and gives no sense of closure. After watching the film for so long, it really just made me go into the credits feeling super annoyed.
... View MoreIt was Halloween and we wanted a horror movie. This is not a horror film despite being billed as such.But it is a wonderfully dark and morbid drama that implies rather than depicts horror. The characters are intensely real, whether the self absorbed "master" or the fearful slaves. There is a brooding undercurrent of evil and tension. The dark mood is enhanced by creative lighting and artistic camera work. It also is the antithesis of Hollywood film culture, achieving its dark impact by suggestion rather than depiction. Something a little different and perhaps not to everyone's taste. But I considered it a masterpiece of cinema art. And the ending... Well, I don't do spoilers and I sure wouldn't want to spoil this one.
... View MoreThis film is streaming on Netflix right now. It has an intriguing premise and cover art so I decided to check it out. One of the first things that The Innocents has going for it is beautiful cinematography. The lighting, scenery and wardrobe is very attractive. Visually this is very good work. The plantation and it's surrounding properties are authentic in every way. As far as casting goes the characters all look the part but some of their performances are sorely lacking in credibility. The language translation only furthers this problem since this is subtitled. The plot is familiar territory. Nothing new there but it's the script and dialogue that is truly uninspired. All in all this is okay. Not total garbage but not good either. Perhaps there could be a reimagining of this...
... View Morewhat some of the reviewers seem not to understand, this isn't a horror movie where someone is going to run after you with a chainsaw or zombies will hobble/run behind you. The horror is in what the enslaved people went through and the curse that carries on. the horror is in the implications. The son's wife asks about the slaves and the son doesn't know. He assumes the slaves were sold. In a dinner conversation the father says there is a need to be ruthless. Later in a flashback scene we see the father get a gun while cursing the salves for the bad weather.... he heads for the door with the gun in his hand. We don't know exactly what he did, there is only the horror of the implication.... He went and shot the slaves because he assumed they were causing the bad weather. When in fact the curse on the land was because of the white family's actions...
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