*Small spoilers throughout*
I rewatched this gem yet again earlier tonight, and it prompted me to do this post on it. A fellow once told me that I was wrong in calling this film horror, as he said it was drama. Well, Don't Look Now is most definitely a very eerie and haunting horror film. It does contain a good amount of drama, but I don't see how anyone could not realize that this is indeed a horror film, and one of the greatest there is at that.
Don't Look Now is beautiful to look at, with gorgeous images, moody lighting, and stellar cinematography. It really makes Venice seem like a very foreboding and menacing place, yet completely gorgeous as well. Simply put, one of the best looking films there is!
I love how its sort of a study of both the family unit and the effects on the human psyche that a death of a loved one can cause certain people. Sutherland and Christie portray the grieving parents to perfection, and Christie's hope after meeting the psychics is qonderfully realized, as is Sutherland's skepticism, even though he'd probably like it to be true. This skepticism leads to some excellent paranoia in the film as well, which itself adds an even more ample amount of intrigue and suspense.
The film is full of impending dread, as well as several haunting scenes. One scene I find particularly haunting is when Donald Sutherland's character thinks he sees his wife in the flesh, but he is actually having a premonition of his own funeral. Very creepy, and quite unsettling. Then, of course there is the disturbing climax.
This is definitely a horror film, and one of the most truly haunting. Easily one of my all time favorites. It is a true work of cinematic art, and one of the strongest, most daring horror works of the early 70s!
I rewatched this gem yet again earlier tonight, and it prompted me to do this post on it. A fellow once told me that I was wrong in calling this film horror, as he said it was drama. Well, Don't Look Now is most definitely a very eerie and haunting horror film. It does contain a good amount of drama, but I don't see how anyone could not realize that this is indeed a horror film, and one of the greatest there is at that.
Don't Look Now is beautiful to look at, with gorgeous images, moody lighting, and stellar cinematography. It really makes Venice seem like a very foreboding and menacing place, yet completely gorgeous as well. Simply put, one of the best looking films there is!
I love how its sort of a study of both the family unit and the effects on the human psyche that a death of a loved one can cause certain people. Sutherland and Christie portray the grieving parents to perfection, and Christie's hope after meeting the psychics is qonderfully realized, as is Sutherland's skepticism, even though he'd probably like it to be true. This skepticism leads to some excellent paranoia in the film as well, which itself adds an even more ample amount of intrigue and suspense.
The film is full of impending dread, as well as several haunting scenes. One scene I find particularly haunting is when Donald Sutherland's character thinks he sees his wife in the flesh, but he is actually having a premonition of his own funeral. Very creepy, and quite unsettling. Then, of course there is the disturbing climax.
This is definitely a horror film, and one of the most truly haunting. Easily one of my all time favorites. It is a true work of cinematic art, and one of the strongest, most daring horror works of the early 70s!
