Medusa

Medusa was both ominous and funny with very well executed satire of religion. The symbolism that filmmaker incorporated was so powerful. The film was also aesthetically beautiful to watch and has an excellent soundtrack. A gripping and engaging film, highly recommend.

Thematically, structurally, and in the way it ambiguously employs the fantastic, this is a film akin to another Brazilian film from 2022, "Raquel 1:1."

Both address the themes effectively (yes, these are crazy people), feature excellent performances by young actors, skillfully intertwine the coming-of-age aspects with the uncertainties and certainties of age, are visually inspiring and thought-provoking to an equal extent, falling slightly short of fully exploring their enormous potential.

Trimming off 20 minutes would make this film more narratively coherent. A different ending might be desired by many. Yet, I can't overlook all the great things it does so well, both in terms of what it has to say (and especially how it does it) and in its highly commendable technical aspects. The main lead is brilliant.

This is the kind of film that will appeal to the person who looks at 'black line on white canvas' at a modern art museum and thinks there's more to it than a black line on a white canvas. I should have known when I saw that this film was well-rated by critics that it would be a total loser, but I took a chance anyway. This was in the 'horror/thriller' category on the kanopy streaming service, and since I was in the mood for a horror, I thought I'd give it a shot. It was one of the more painful shots I've had in a while. Some of the scenes made no sense whatsoever, and you didn't know if they were real or dreamt, though they came across as real - real stupid. The whole premise doesn't make much sense, but far be it from me to spoil it for any poor sap who looks at the good reviews and wants to give it a watch. Perhaps if you're Brazilian it will make more sense to you, but for this senior American male, it was a complete dud. I don't often rate a movie a '1', but I honestly think that's what this deserves. You've been warned.

I saw the premiere of Medusa at Cannes Film Festival and had no expectations whatsoever. I was totally gripped throughout and immediately invested in the narrative and characters. The colour palette of the movie is intense; oranges, reds, greens and neons- all deeply symbolic. The soundtrack is amazing and helps to keep the pace moving along. Bruna's performance is layered and career defining. I loved how stylised the film is. The unapologetically feminist conclusion makes this film feel totally relevant and a definite one to watch. Would highly recommend.

With a running time of over two hours, Medusa was in need of some serious editing. A group of eight women are vigilantes at night, wearing white masks while dishing out beatings to those in need of punishment for their sins. The unworthy are made to repent while promising to reform while dedicating the rest of their lives to Jesus.

Mari(Mari Oliveira) is the lead actress and she is the only positive aspect of this tedious and drawn out story.

Mari ends up working at a hospital for comatose patients and things go from bad to worse for the young nurse. I saw this posted as horror and I was waiting for a something scary to happen and it never did.

Medusa is a bore fest.