Post by FRANK the giant bunny on May 13, 2011 12:07:21 GMT -5
This is one of the those films which is very difficult to write a review for, as there is really no way to describe it without giving something away. This is a little known cult classic, which was only available on VHS, and not really available even then, for it had been out of print for over a decade. (not even ebay had this baby)
Now the basic plot......
Inspired by the Clint Eastwood/Sergio leone westerns, and based on actual murders, it tells the tale of a serial killer named Jake who walks the plains of South Africa searching for victims, and taking their photo before killing them. Wendy has had a fight with her husband and she takes off into the desert, in search of her self. In comes the Dark/mysterious character, known so well by spaghetti western/ Clint Eastwood movie fans. This is one of the most breathtaking serial killer movies ever made, in fact to call it a serial killer flick is to do a great injustice to this movie, it is truly a masterpiece of "CINEMA"
It was actually filmed in South Africa and its astonishing, the texture and the color scheme of the movie is amazing. It is filled with avant-Gard camera angles, an intense and strange soundtrack, its just a beautiful movie to look at. This movie came out some time after (I believe) "The Hitchhiker" so everyone saw that and no one saw this movie, but in my opinion this is a far superior piece. It was finally released on DVD for the first time in 2006, with two versions of the film, the final version and the work print. Both have commentaries. If you want to see a totally original take on the old run-of-the-mill serial killer movie, then Dust Devil is for you. Go into this film with an open mind, trust me you'll love it.
Its important to know that Gnosticism is based on a conflict with certain Judaic notions in terms of God, and what the Gnostic's considered to be a vast difference between the God of the Old Testament and that of the New. This is important because most of the movies that have been "Gnosticly inspired" reference this very conflict. Movies such as The Lawnmowerman, The Truman Show etc.
Richard Stanley added into this influences from other sources such as the Book of Enoch, and the notion of fallen angels (Watchers). This he overlaid with the Gnostic conception of the Archons or rulers, which were personified and associated with the seven planets. These world rulers were viewed as being malevolent in nature, their job was to keep the soul from escaping the material world. Human beings have a spark of divine light within them, encased and imprisoned in material bodies, which it craves to escape. This is largely what the movie deals with, albeit in a very unique and interesting way.
"Remember you have a spark of light trapped inside you, and he is the man who is going to let it out."
I highly recommend this movie, now I know I'm a little bias but I give it
Originality - 10
Atmosphere - 10
Camera work - 10
Color grading - 10
Gore effects - 10
Audience response expectation - 4
(Might be a little too artsy for some people)