This is a "true" horror movie

Rating: Null/10 (6 February 2003)

When I finished watching this movie last night, it was 2 AM and I was alone. I was practically shivering in horror at what I had just seen, and I felt like curling into a ball with my pillow in hand. Watching this movie is like watching a close friend deteriorate before your very eyes. I had to hit the mute button during the ending montage and peek through my fingers at the TV. I normally don't watch films like this, but this one had been tempting me for months, so I finally gave in. I'm really glad I did, but part of me wished I hadn't.
"Requiem" is such a powerful film that deserves the acclaim it has gotten. Drug addiction is the obvious element here, but there's much more underneath: love, betrayal, loneliness, and desperation. Ellen Burnstyn does a superior job as Sara Goldfarb, an aging widow and mother who lives alone in her apartment. Her son, Harry, makes his living dealing drugs with his friend, Tyrone. Harry's girlfriend, Marion, who's also an addict, are living together and trying to establish a good living. Ms. Goldfarb knows nothing of her son's real life, and fantasizes about his future, as well as her own when she receives an offer to appear as a contestant on a television show. Her story alone makes this film - it's heart-wrenching and traumatizing to watch. The three kids got what they deserved, in my opinion, but Sara was the innocent, loving mother who didn't deserve such a fate.
The incredible, albeit a bit cartoony, camera cuts work very well. I loved the music in this film and how it was used. It was unsettling to hear the music all discordant when the characters began their respective freefalls. The ending montage, if you have the guts to watch it, unlike myself, is a visual wonder, from the little bits that I saw.
If the film could be stripped of its nudity, this would be an excellent film for at-risk teens and high school students. This is where the three young adults' stories are powerful. Drugs might be fun for a while, but soon you're hanging onto a train and you either keep riding it 'til your life gives out, or let go and face a long, hellish recovery. But in this case, the train stopped, leaving the kids out in the cold. Witnessing what they have to do to feed their addictions is truly sad and it's something every teen should see.
This is a harsh film, very horrifying and not good for sensitive viewers. Did I enjoy it? Not really. Is it a brilliant film? Absolutely. I knew this was an excellent film when it was over, but I didn't enjoy it much. Though, honestly, this isn't a film to be enjoyed, because what you see is isn't at all joyous. It's a film to be experienced, and what an experience you'll get! I won't give this film a grade, it's not a fair measure with a film like this, but I highly recommend it.