Not for the faint-hearted!

Rating: 10/10 (29 June 2020)

Darren Aronofsky is one of the craziest filmmakers working today. His latest film, mother!, was crazy but Requiem for a Dream was on another level.
Requiem for a Dream follows four characters and the effect their drug addiction has on their physical and mental state.
When the credits started rolling, I was in a state of shock and horror. I don't think a movie has left me feeling so disturbed. I breathed a sigh of relief as this film gives an experience that's completely anxiety inducing. This is most certainly a film NOT for the faint-hearted.
The way Aronofsky handles this film is perfection. We start with each character at the best point of their life and then see their addiction slowly spiral out of control over the course of the runtime makes the film engaging from start to finish and shows Aronofsky as a master of build up. The camerawork and editing is very stylish and fast paced, not allowing you to take a breather at any given moment. The quick edits and close-ups puts the audience into the state of mind of each character creating a more terrifying and immersive experience. The soundtrack is also great. It's filled with music that's ominous which fits the tone perfectly.
What makes the film even more horrifying are the fantastic actors on-screen. Jennifer Connelly delivers a solid performance for a role that requires a lot from her and Jared Leto proves to me he's a capable actor with a powerhouse performance here. Marlon Wayans really surprised me as I'm used to seeing him in comedies and I wish he would take on more serious roles as this film shows his talent. However, the winning performance here was done by the excellent Ellen Burstyn. Especially for her age, her role was very challenging and demanding and she gave the performance of a lifetime here. It's sad she didn't win an Oscar for it.
If there's ever a film that deters you from taking drugs, it's Requiem for a Dream. It's definitely a challenging watch but if you're up for it, I would highly recommend it.