Customer Reviews

From Hell/Ravenous

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The western frontier of the United States in 1847 is pretty much the last place you'd expect as the setting of a horror movie and yet the setting as well as the time period add a grittiness and genuineness to the tale. And don't get me wrong, this definitely is a very dark and twisted fairy tale, though it was clearly inspired by true-life events, like the infamous Donner party murders. Cannibalism is often used as a flavoring to shock an audience, as with zombie films and the like, but I've never seen the device used more effectively as I have in this movie. It's not merely a crutch or a cheap hat trick for the director, it's a vital plot element on which many of the story's situations hinge.

Having been shot in the untouched wilderness of the Czech republic, the settings are breathtaking to behold and you are left feeling, much like the characters at the isolated outpost, that you are all alone and there is nowhere to run. The energy and pacing are exceptional and the performances (particularly from Robert Carlyle and Jeffrey Jones) are compelling. The script is rife with sharp, wicked black humor that only the true horror fiends will be able to appreciate. The gore is kept to a minimum, which I think helps to maximize its impact, and the music is both suitable for the period and helps to give the more action-oriented scenes an enervating backbone.

This has been one of my all-time favorite movies ever since the first time I saw it. It's a horror movie for those who are bored with the Freddys and Mikes and Jasons and roll their eyes at the myriad "Scary Movie" send-ups. It winks at the audience from a face dripping with blood while at the same time holding them captive until the very last frames. It might be surprising to some to know that a woman directed this film, but if anything, I think that Antonia Bird's attention to detail and efforts to make even the most loathsome of characters seem strangely sympathetic helps to round out the film and keep it from turning into yet another hack-and-slash-er. The characters are what keep you watching, not the hope of violence or blood. This is a movie with real meat on its bones and if you let go of any moral or religious reservations you might have, you will find a delightful, energetic adventure in this film.

This is a great surprise - the storyline and acting grow throughout... it's a must watch. Not one that everyone knows but you'll love it if you've found it.

Don't buy this item from amazon.com. They are not brand new. The UPC bar code region (the plastic wrapping of the DVD case, the cover of the case, and the case itself) of BOTH DVDs are heavily destroyed by an inch long deep cut. Amazon.com is nice to send me a replacement by 1-day delivery, however the replacement still has the same problem. I wonder perhaps all Amazon.com's stock of this 2-disc package are like that.

One of those hidden gems. I have recommended this movie to several friends and all have enjoyed it. I would place it in my top 20 all time favorites without a doubt.