High-brow horror hits you in the gut

Rating: 10/10 (1 January 2011)

The "Black Swan" is perhaps one of the most highly-stylized and incredibly subtle horror films ever made. It appears to disguise itself as a drama but is in fact a surreal nightmare--an extremely claustrophobic one. It is incredibly brutal and horrific on a much deeper level than any genre film. Here the horror is psychological and emotional. Yet still impacts you with real "jump-in-your-seat" fright. I'm glad I did not see the trailer before I saw the film. I was expecting a story about an ambitious ballerina...so glad I got something much more complex and layered with lasting resonance.
It is an outstanding film in all aspects of craftsmanship and deserves its accolades. It is tightly paced and never lets up from start to finish. Whatever the quibbles are about this film, it cannot be denied that it grips you hard and you are not on steady ground until you leave the theatre, much like the haunted house at an amusement park. Except with the "Black Swan", the horror is high-brow. It cuts through your faculties of reason and hits you right in the gut. A stunning achievement.