plot dvd review story Needless to say the entire experience is a confused one. Stamp appears around the streets rather like an atypical pervert, adorned in long mac and cap (think Keith Moon's Uncle Ernie in Tommy, or even Peter Cook). For a psychopath, Stamp seems rather likeable early on, becoming very human by the 40 minute mark. This is the focal point of the film, the viewer's empathy with Stamp's characterisation. We can all see a little of ourselves in him - lost, confused and shy around the opposite sex, particularly those whom we have fallen for. His feelings seem genuine, even if he does stalk Eggar and then kidnap her. He reasons things out, permitting her freedom within an allotted time. From there it becomes a question of will she fall for him after all, and whether she does or does not, will he let her go home. He is a love-stricken schoolboy living out fantasy (much as Malcolm McDowell does in If...). Eggar meanwhile is the more dominant personality - full of life and charm. Delictable indeed. The whole experience is unsettling, with the game of snakes and ladders never over. It is unsettling and frighteneing. The leads are very adept and subtle in their mannerisms. Stamp crosses between naive adolescant innocence and depraived sinister malevolence. He's either a perfect gentleman or a total cad. In the closing quarter the pace quickens and varies enormously, building up to a shock conclusion - whiolst it is difficult to judge her reactions, Eggar attempts to take over and seduce him - using his desire of her and give in to the inevitable (much is made through the film of the stragnge boundaries that lie between the pair in a sexual manner). This scene provides a strange and confusing kind of eroticism - a form of altered rape - where the consent is against the natural will and desire., He can't control himselfg as is evident throughout - and this upsets him. More than once he leaps away from a normality. In the attempted sex scene one expects him to prematurely ejaculate and thus save her from the indignity. You can't always get what you want , and yet in some ways both characters do - just not the way they hope. A fantastic and well crafted film. The direction is without fault. The viewer is kept on his toes, and kept interested throughout. The photography and production values are also first class. The small isolated and claustrophobic locations ensure the relationship is always tense and almost threatening in itself. A much more intense and compelling view than modern yarns including Panic Room. transfer extras The trailers are all for similarly themed
thrillers. Only the trailer for this film is of the
period. Its a fine transfer as are the others, but is
slightly misleading in terms of plot events for the film.
Whilst I expected several key scenes as a result (I
nearly always watch the trailer before the main feature),
I was off-course with some of my expectations of their
relationship. Trailers SUMMARY RJES |
|
DISC: Feature length: 119
mins SPECIAL FEATURES: |
