we want movies to affect us, don´t we?

Rating: Null/10 (17 November 2000)

I saw this one at the Stockholm Film Festival 4 days ago. It was like getting a hard punch in the stomach. And I have seen my fair share of tough movies. When I left the cinema, I saw a woman leaning against the wall, crying her eyes out. Not since SEVEN have I seen a movie with this visceral impact. The accelerating cross-cut montage is disturbing and powerful, the music pumping, the hypnotic beat, sneaking up on you, trapping you in a vice, a spiral descent into hell, each turn faster, narrower. I felt Darronofsky was close to showing-off, and I gave it a 3 out of 5 on the card afterwards. If someone aims a punch at you, you react by raising your guard. But after all, we want movies to affect us, don´t we? This one has stayed in my mind for days afterwards, I can´t wait to watch it again. Even if it isn´t always a pleasant experience. A very strong movie, not for the squeamish, and now, after digesting it, I´ll rate it 4.