Zhest

This is a super-stylish film and technically speaking, it's every bit as advanced as anything coming out of Hollywood--perhaps even more. The cinematography, much of the direction and special effects were pretty amazing. However, as for the story and characters, they were a complete muddled mess...at best.

The film is, in many ways, like a modern evil version of "Alice in Wonderland" but instead of the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter and the like, this one is replete with serial killers, pedophiles, rapists and a guy who supposedly has no face who walks about in a weird otherworldly mask. None of it particularly makes any sense and it's all unpleasantness from start to finish. In this case, Alice is Miranda--and everyone seems to be ready to kill or rape her. In the end, there is a bizarre surreal twist that really make you feel as if you've just watched a movie written by someone with schizophrenia AND who was using hard-core drugs. The overall effect is completely confusing, violent, nihilistic and nasty. Never mind the male full-frontal nudity, this film is like brain porn due to its repellence from start to finish. Could you tell I didn't like the film?! By the way, I should point out that "Zhest" is translated in the English subtitled version as "Junk"--how fitting.