Customer Reviews

Nomads

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"You, they know about you." This may be the most chilling line of dialogue ever delivered on film. It is the pivotal moment in the movie, the moment of realization that not everything we see is real. Whether we want to belief it or not, forces exist in the universe that we dismiss or ignore at our own peril.

Such is the moment of truth for Jean-Charles Pommier (Pierce Brosnan), a sophisticated, well respected anthropologist newly arrived in Los Angeles and about to embark on a new phase in his career as a professor of Cultural Anthropology at UCLA. After years of living in some of the most remote regions of the world studying the spiritual beliefs and customs of nomadic cultures, Jean-Charles is reluctant but willing to leave the spiritual cosmos of the 'primitive' for a better life with his wife in sunny California.

He soon discovers that things are no different in the urban sprawl of a major city than they are anywhere else. The very first day in their new home Pommier encounters a troublesome, unruly band of misfits driving around the neighborhood in a black van. Curious about their anti-social behavior he follows them about Westwood secretly taking notes and photos of their activities. His findings are unexpected and earthshattering. They are Nomads (hostile, wandering spirits), and his interest in them has now turned their attention in his direction. The hunter has become the hunted and poor Jean-Charles must attempt to flee from the Nomads before it's too late.

Wonderful performances abound in this film. Pierce Brosnan and Lesley-Anne Down (as Dr. Eileen Flax) are at their best in the lead roles, but it is the supporting cast that really takes this film to a higher level. Anna Maria Monticelli is absolutely beautiful as Pommiers' loving, vulernable wife while Jeannie Elias supplies a Streisandesque burst of energy and a little comic relief as the hardnosed, agnostic best friend of Dr. Flax. Frances Bay who delivers that crucial line of dialogue at the beginning of this review has a small but significant role that she plays to eerie perfection.

There are also amazing performances to be found by those in the role of the Nomads. They don't speak a word yet have the uncanny ability to create the most disquieting, otherworldly atmosphere with nothing more than a facial expression or gesture. They're absolutely mesmerizing. Adam Ant as "Number One", Mary Woronov as "Dancing Mary" and Hector Mercado as "Ponytail" are unforgetable.

Every movie fan knows that the soundtrack plays a major role in the success or failure of a film to create the appropriate mood, or elicit the desired emotional response from the audience. In 'Nomads' Bill Conti and Ted Nuggent have provided the perfect accompaniment, successfully capturing the angry, restless nature of these hostile entities in their hard-driving, discordant rhythms. Like an incessant, demonic heartbeat the thundering music and lyrics of Ted Nuggent coupled with the etheral, exotic sounds of Bill Conti envelope the viewer drawing them into the savage, archaic Underworld of the Nomads.

Departing from the usual action/adventure features he's so well known for, director John McTiernan delivers a stunning masterpiece of psychological, supernatural terror. Nomads is as near perfect as a movie could be. However I will admit if you're not familiar with the subject of territorial spirits or shamanic transference it might be difficult to follow. Without question "Nomads" is one of my all-time favorite films!

John Mctiernan's 1986 release, "Nomads", may not be a perfect film but in a genre (horror) cursed all to often with cliche, derivative story lines and stupidity in general, it is an imaginative, compelling, and suspenseful entry.

The film opens with emergency room doctor Eileen Flax (easy on the eyes Lesley-Anne Down) being attacked by a madman (Pierce Brosnan, suave even as he froths and foams) who has been hauled raving in French to the L.A. hospital where she has recently begun work after a divorce and subsequent move from Boston. Soon thereafter she begins to relive - through some kind of telepathic bond with the dead man (the nature of which is not explained) - the last few days of his life. We learn that the mad Frenchman was an anthropologist named Jean-Charles Pommier, only just settled in L.A. with his wife (beautiful red-head Anna Maria Monticelli) after a decade or so spent tracking remote areas of the earth in the study of nomadic peoples. Unfortunately, the house they have moved into was the site of a recent murder and seems to be a magnet for a gang of wild and mysterious characters (Adam Ant, Mary Woronov and others) who drive around in a black van. Pommier follows this group into the night and the mystery that brought him to the hospital in the opening moments of the film begins.

I understand that the narrative structure of the film, which shifts between past and present via the agency of the mysterious bond between Flax and Pommier, confuses many people. I hate to sound snobbish but for me this is more an indication of the general low level of the typical movie viewers intelligence than a failure on the film makers part. This is not an "easy" movie; it requires that some attention be paid and for me the reward is worth the effort. The film is not completely successful, however. There are times, for instance, when I (who appreciate the ambiguous element of a well crafted tale) would like a bit of elaboration or explanation - the telepathic bond, for example, or the scene in which Pommier, after being pursued by the black van bunch, finds himself in a deserted building with a strange old nun (who is she precisely?). Also, the rock soundtrack by Bill Conti and Ted Nugent is a bit of a mixed bag in terms of effectiveness, alternating between appropriate and annoying. But, on the whole, I find this a creative, engaging and, ultimately, satisfying ghost story.

A renowned french anthropologist and his wife move to California - a kind of semi-retirement to teach at UCLA after years of field work with native peoples from all over the world. They move into their house and find that it has been vandalized by some local riffraff (goth-like young ruffians) driving around in a van.

The instincts of the anthropologist (Jean-Charles Pommier played by Pierce Brosnan) kick in and he's on their trail - the trail of the "Nomads".

Now most of the story is actually told through the mind/memory of a medical doctor (Lesley-Anne Down as Dr. Eileen Flax). She treats the anthropologist at the hospital when he is near death from violent injuries. (this happens at the beginning of the movie). Before he dies he communicates his soul/memory to her.

This movie is haunting, intelligent, beautifully directed - very well acted and last but not least - very interesting.

Just one very cool movie!!

-CrowTurtle

I first saw this movie about 10 years ago on VHS. I could not watch it alone or in one sitting. It scared the stuffing out of me. No, it doesn't serve up every answer neat and clean, it forces you to think. I don't care much for Adam Ant as a musician, but I think his casting here as an evil entity was inspired. The role played by Lesley Ann Downs would have been better served with a man in the role, making the blending of minds/spirits much smoother and the interactions a little cleaner. But overall, I've loved this movie and am happy to find it on DVD.

I am so glad this is on DVD. I enjoyed Brosnan's excellent work in this film. A Superb French accent, and an amazing scene in the hospital.
The Mythos behind this film is excellent, eerie, and so haunting. Worth watching, and will, if you get right into it, inspire you to look up books on the Inuit.
This is a briliant, albeit low budget, supernatural /surreal thriller.
Well worth the watch, and may inspire you to see more in this type of genre.

I saw this movie about 4 yrs ago and found it to be really really good.I have heard so many stories as to how this film bombed in the US Box office and how director John Mctiernan got his break to direct the sci fi classic Predator.The truth is this film stands on it own and Lasley Anne Down gives a superb perfomance as a derainged Doctor who posses the spirit of Brosnan.

It's rare to see a suspense/horror movie like this but with films like Sixth Sense and The Others coming out these days audience might just love the film for it's origianlity.

Brosnan is in top form here to play an accentric photographer trying to escape a group of punks who he believes to be nomads with dissastruos results.The director who usualy gives us steriod injected camera movements(i.e very fast moving)doesn't let us down one bit on his motion picture debut!

Dragged to this in the theater though not a horror fan but seen again 2011 has reshaped my perspective on this beautiful little thriller. Basically a ghost story told with visuals and quiet interspersed with sharp contrast of electric guitar and low rumblings for the ominous punks. Unfolds like an old mystery where only a few keys are given. They are not repeated and shed a bit of light but nothing conclusive. Reminds me of Blowup the way even murder is unclear. The immediate question why or how is our lovely doctor possessed sort of resolves itself over the course of the film and her strong character emerges as a blend of living and dead. Very tender beautiful acting between the two heroines who are compelling and believable. Rare to see anything like that kind of acting especially in a horror film. It raises questions of possession and what is living and what is dead but placed in an attractive contemporary context. Refreshing to see these old movies that are really great movie making. Early largely ignored release from the director of Die Hard an all time proven crowd pleaser.

Well it's about time...unfortunatly this original and amazing movie didn't have the atention it deserved on DVD (Only the Trailer?...come on people you can do better!)but no problem...it's here... the directorial debut of John "Die Hard" McTiernan is here.
A tale of Hurban Horror that surpasses many movies done today and keeps you in suspense till the amazing ending (Long before twist endings-so Hollywoodesk now a days)
Great movie, great story and great acting in a movie that deserves all of our atention.
With out any doubt, a cult classic...

This is an 80s sleeper flick starring Pierce Brosnan with a very unusual plot. Cinematic and accompanied by a driving rock and roll score featuring Ted Nugent,you'll find you have to keep your eyes open with this one to catch the subtleties of its abstract plot. There are also some interesting symbols about life in California that continually pop up through out the movie. If you like supernatural thrillers that make you work for the answers, you'll love this movie.

This 1986 thriller stars Pierce Brosnan, Lesley-Anne Down, Anna-Maria Monticelli and Adam Ant.

Brosnan is an French anthropologist who for years studied nomadic tribes and peoples in various remote parts of the world. He decided to settle down and lead a more conventional lifestyle. Thus he moved with his wife (Anna-Maria Monticelli) to southern California to embark on a new career as a UCLA professor of Anthropology.

The movie opens up with Jean Pommier (Brosnan) in the hospital emergency room where he is bloody, beat-up and brought in by paramedics. He wispers one word, Innuit, in the ear of Dr. Eileen Flax (Lesley-Anne Down), bit her ear and then died. The Dr. Flax then relives Pommier's last few days and tries to uncover the mystery of his death and try to stop the demons before she suffers the same fate as Pommier.

During the trip back, we encounter a strange group of nomadic urban gang-like, up-to-no-good people led by Adam Ant (kind of reminded me of the group in Clockwork Orange). They are terrorizing Pommier's house and new neighborhood in a black van. Pommier discovers that they are no different than the nomads he tracked in the remote areas of the world. He's intrigued and follows the group around, taking notes and photos, none which come out, but that adds to the chilling thrill ride that this movie takes you on. To reveal anymore would give away the film. This is now one of my top 10 favorite movies---a must see and buy.