Beyond the Black Rainbow (2010)

A young woman is being held captive in a secluded commune, under intense observation. Her abductor, a corrupt scientist wants to harness her special abilities. Despite her near catatonic state, the girl is determined to escape. One of the greatest assets of movie making today is that anything is possible. Films can be windows into worlds from the imagination of great artists. On the downside, the studios are rarely willing to take any chances.

These days, it seems the only place a filmmaker can truly realize their vision is in the independent industry. No way would a film like Beyond the Black Rainbow make it in the mainstream market. There is style to spare, but also quite a bit of substance. Those looking for car chases, gun fire and explosions would find it hard to sit through. It's really a shame that this is the case because the film really has a lot to offer. 

This is Panos Cosmatos's first time behind the camera and boy does he nail it. It's one of the most visually interesting films of recent times. The performances are strong all across the board, with Michael Rogers being supremely creepy. As for young Eva Allan, she has the most challenging role of all, having to convey all her emotions without talking. She really makes you feel for her with her big sad eyes and expressions of disorientation and fear.

Though we do have a plot and multidimensional characters here, the film is largely about spectacle. The cinematography is gorgeous, adding to the dystopian feel. Even cooler is the production design, which is futuristic yet still 80s inspired. But what's really eye-catching is the surreal imagery throughout the film. Some of it is seen in the trailer, but that is only a taste of it. Also, the special effects used in creating a lot of it are stellar and thankfully practical.

One thing all the great Science Fiction films have in common is a memorable score. Jeffrey Schmidt of bands Black Mountain and Sinoia Caves did this film's score and it's a knockout. The use of a synthesizer was perfect and should make viewers feel nostalgic. The music, combined with the film's appropriate deliberate pacing, make for a really hypnotic experience. It's also really nice that all the music from the trailer appears in the film.

Clocking in at around 105 minutes, the film does feel just a tad too long. There are some scenes, such as ones where characters walk down long corridors, that drag on too long. The biggest flaw though is how ambiguous the film is. This is to be expected in films that are well outside the norm, but in this case it's too much. Many questions are raised, but few answers are given and it's a bit frustrating. All that aside though, this is a must see for those looking for something different and bursting with imagination.

9/10