I've read many negative reviews about this film. Some complain about the coherency and pace of the film, while most complain about the ending. Let me start by saying this is one of the best horror films, if not one of the best films I've ever seen, and I've watched thousands of films from the silent era all the way up to present time.
What Shadow does so well (BIG SPOILER) is to accomplish the true elements of a dream. It changes pace and setting quite quickly, and effectively. Going from backwoods terror to what some might consider Nazi torture porn doesn't seem like a well flowing narrative, but it works while your watching it, and is only clarified by the ending. So are other strange occurrences such as the rednecks being in what appears to Europe, and the portrait of our 43rd President. Personally, the reason I believe it struck such a chord with myself is because it reminded me of my own dreams. Not so much in the content, but in the way it can rapidly change and go downhill. Most people were very angered over the ending, and didn't take the time to appreciate what director Federico Zampaglione was trying to do. That was to present a dream in it's truest nature. If one was to go back and examine the intricacies of the dream, I think they would be surprised at how the elements are truly dreamlike. Maybe those individuals have never really had a vivid dream.
Overall, the movie derives a great deal of inspiration from many other classic films. Some of its visual imagery personally reminded me of An American Werewolf in London (An American man traveling in a foggy, European land with apprehensive locals), as well as Ingmar Bergman's The Seventh Seal(The Nazi Butcher very much resembling the characterization of death in that film). It keeps ones interest, and is genuinely frightening. It doesn't overuse gore, and really is a step above films such as Hostel or Saw. It uses suspense and a feeling of real, sheer terror. Actor Nuot Arquint, as the Strange Nazi Toad Licker (Which many people felt was a gratuitous scene, but hey its a dream, it doesn't have to make sense) evokes fear into the audience without the heavy use of make-up, or as is popular today CGI. His appearance on screen for some reason reminded me of what it might have been like to see Boris Karloff appear on screen as the Frankenstein Monster, or Bela Lugosi as Dracula. As for the ending, if analyzed, can be extremely thought provoking.
I ended up watching this movie almost by accident, my brother recommended the film. His taste in movies is usually poor, but every once in a while he finds a gem (Check out Goon starring Sean William Scott, very surprising indeed). I think the less an individual knows about this film going in, the better. All in all, this is one of the best modern day horror films I've ever seen, with enough class to remind one of what the experience of viewing a horror movie should be like. This is an under-appreciated classic that, I am sure will one day receive its due.
What Shadow does so well (BIG SPOILER) is to accomplish the true elements of a dream. It changes pace and setting quite quickly, and effectively. Going from backwoods terror to what some might consider Nazi torture porn doesn't seem like a well flowing narrative, but it works while your watching it, and is only clarified by the ending. So are other strange occurrences such as the rednecks being in what appears to Europe, and the portrait of our 43rd President. Personally, the reason I believe it struck such a chord with myself is because it reminded me of my own dreams. Not so much in the content, but in the way it can rapidly change and go downhill. Most people were very angered over the ending, and didn't take the time to appreciate what director Federico Zampaglione was trying to do. That was to present a dream in it's truest nature. If one was to go back and examine the intricacies of the dream, I think they would be surprised at how the elements are truly dreamlike. Maybe those individuals have never really had a vivid dream.
Overall, the movie derives a great deal of inspiration from many other classic films. Some of its visual imagery personally reminded me of An American Werewolf in London (An American man traveling in a foggy, European land with apprehensive locals), as well as Ingmar Bergman's The Seventh Seal(The Nazi Butcher very much resembling the characterization of death in that film). It keeps ones interest, and is genuinely frightening. It doesn't overuse gore, and really is a step above films such as Hostel or Saw. It uses suspense and a feeling of real, sheer terror. Actor Nuot Arquint, as the Strange Nazi Toad Licker (Which many people felt was a gratuitous scene, but hey its a dream, it doesn't have to make sense) evokes fear into the audience without the heavy use of make-up, or as is popular today CGI. His appearance on screen for some reason reminded me of what it might have been like to see Boris Karloff appear on screen as the Frankenstein Monster, or Bela Lugosi as Dracula. As for the ending, if analyzed, can be extremely thought provoking.
I ended up watching this movie almost by accident, my brother recommended the film. His taste in movies is usually poor, but every once in a while he finds a gem (Check out Goon starring Sean William Scott, very surprising indeed). I think the less an individual knows about this film going in, the better. All in all, this is one of the best modern day horror films I've ever seen, with enough class to remind one of what the experience of viewing a horror movie should be like. This is an under-appreciated classic that, I am sure will one day receive its due.
Tell Your Friends