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Movie Review: ‘BEYOND THE BLACK RAINBOW’

Published on July 6, 2012, by Michael Haffner - Posted in 2

Beyond The Black Rainbow still image
8 Overall Score
Story: 7/10
Characterization: 6/10
Execution: 9/10

Stunning Imagery / A perfect score for the visuals

Little character development / The experience as a whole can be exhausting

This review was originally posted last September during Fantastic Fest 2011.  We have decided to re-post it due to Destroy the Brain hosting the St. Louis premiere of the film this weekend.  Beyond the Black Rainbow will screen at midnight this Friday, July 6 and Saturday, July 7 at the Hi-Pointe Theatre.

“Hey man . . . when did you drop?” Many people might see Panos Cosmatos‘ feature film debut as an excuse to take some acid and kick back and look at pretty colors.  He’s obviously not the only one who has made a film in this vein.  This can also be said of such films as 2001: A Space Odyssey, Eraserhead, and El Topo.  Not a bad group of films to be a part of.  Granted, you don’t have to partake in illegal substances to enjoy those films or this new ambitious piece of cinema.  What’s interesting though is the fact that the three films previously mentioned seem to be clear inspirations for Panos and his bizarre kaleidoscope colored alternate past.  Beyond the Black Rainbow, like those films, is a worthy addition to a line-up of future midnight movies that seems destined to be rescued over the coming years by film-lovers (drug-induced or not) exclaiming, “How did no one notice this film before?”

It’s hard to describe the plot to a film that is meant to exist as a film experience rather than presenting a distinct narrative.  But I’ll do the best I can do.  The film opens in an alternate 1983.  A world where a new science research facility, ARBORIA, is taking steps to develop new mind-altering drugs that explore the far reaches of the mind.  Alena, held captive in the institute, seems to be developing new psychic powers as a result of the experiments conducted by Barry Nyle (Michael Rogers).  What follows is a visual trip through the psyche of both characters imagined through abstract and colorful imagery.

Panos Cosmatos has created a sensory masterpiece that is best viewed on the big-screen.  Find your largest movie screen with the best sound system and sit back and witness a truly unique film experience.  Beyond the Black Rainbow explores the power of imagery in a way that would make Alejandro Jodorowsky, Ken Russell, and Stanley Kubrick proud.  The film asks a lot of its audience considering not a lot of dialogue is given to hold your interest.  This experience will either make or break someone going into this film.  Thankfully, the compositions on the screen are unbelievably gorgeous and trance inducing.  If you find yourself falling asleep, I can’t say that I blame you.  Between the visuals and the analog score that is reminiscent of John Carpenter in the 1980′s, I found myself entering a dreamlike state that is abruptly broken until the film’s final minutes.  In many ways, the film’s use of colors and shapes which endlessly morph into one another conveys the emotions of the characters without a single line of dialogue, while also showing how the simplicity of an image can be even more striking than the CGI landscapes we’ve come to expect from modern cinema.

Combining equal parts of Altered States and THX 1138, as lit by Mario Bava, Beyond the Black Rainbow exists as an astounding debut from a director who reminds us that film is truly a visual medium.  Panos Cosmatos’ decision to deliver a more ambiguous story in-lieu of a hypnotic dream is going to gain as many critics as it will fans.  If you can set aside your preconceived notions of film, story, and narrative, Beyond the Black Rainbow is a gorgeous trip that will take you from “somewhere over the rainbow” to the Holy Mountain.

 

Beyond the Black Rainbow will screen at midnight this Friday, July 6 and Saturday, July 7 at the Hi-Pointe Theatre in St. Louis, MO.


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Author: Michael Haffner View all posts by
Somewhere between growing up on a steady diet of Saturday morning trips to the local comic-book shop, collecting an unhealthy amount of action figures, and frequent viewings of Ray Harryhausen and Hammer Horror films, came forth a nerdy boy that was torn between journalism and the arts. In high school, Michael found himself writing a movie column for the school newspaper. Yet, he went on to get a BFA in Studio Art at Webster University. The battle between these two worlds has finally ceased with his current position as Managing Editor for DestroyTheBrain.com. When not writing about films, you can still find him discussing classic horror, collecting action figures, and reading Batman. Clearly, not much has changed.
  • AlanMorlock

    I was really excited to see this film and I thank the Hi Point, Andy and everyone at DTB for bringing the film to St. Louis but I have to say I was fairly disappointed in it. It is true that this film has some wonderfully composed shots but they are ultimately in service of nothing. What’s so frustrating about this film is that its obvious that a lot of talented people committed a lot of time and talent towards its making but the film is ultimately quite empty. Films like THX-1138 and 2001: A Space Odyssey are indeed slow and obscured at times but ultimately both films have something to say. Beyond the Black Rainbow is certainly a great exercise in style but is more brain-dead where it tries to be cerebral. Furthermore it has one of the most laughably terrible endings that I’ve seen in pretty much any film.

    • Michael Haffner

      Thanks for checking out the film and supporting Destroy the Brain. I thought the film did touch on some ideas, most prominently on the illusion of “happiness” (or false happiness) that was built up during the Reagan years in America. This film does take place in an alternate 1983 where he would have been president. In terms of the ending, not only does it kind of wink at the slasher films which were also quite popular as entertainment during the 80′s, but the final shot of her finally being free walking towards a neighborhood where all the houses look EXACTLY the same, once again touches on my earlier point of false happiness and freedom. I do agree with your point though that the other two films you mention are more forward with their ideas.