III: The Ritual

I came across this film with very little info beforehand, not even having watched the trailer. There is so much to love about this movie, I don't even know where to begin. The creators are obvious fans of the work of Yamaoka Akira (who did the soundtracks to Silent Hill), the franchise itself, Fatal Frame and the work of director Tarsem. One of the most visually stunning films I have seen all year, III combines art-house aesthetics with stylized horror to great effect. Anyone who has played Silent hill will automatically see the inspiration, as the creature and effects designs would be right at home in the game. The story of one sister attempting to save the other echoes that of Fatal Frame, withe similar eerie undertones. Lastly, having the girl enter her sisters subconscious takes me back to Tarsem's The Cell, also a visually stunning film. The topping on an already delicious cake is the incredible soundtrack; Yamaoka-san himself would be proud to hear music that is clearly inspired by his work, and it flowed so beautifully with the visuals of the film, that it was an almost flawless culmination. Aside from some gaps in the storytelling, and a bit if confusion towards the end, there really hasn't been a movie like this is a very long time. If you love art-house films that are actually interesting to watch, I highly recommend III. Fans of Silent Hill, this is a no brainer.

In a village ravaged by an epidemic, a girl turns to the local priest for a cure for her dying sister, but the priest has a spooky suggestion.

Wow - this looks damn fine! I spent the entire film trying to figure out where it was shot: Russian language, but turns out the urban scenes are in Marburg, and the camera work takes full advantage. Also the Russian landscapes are droolishly good.

Anyway, a mysterious story and I'm not sure it's a horror. Certainly light on gore, with the emphasis on mild del Toro style grotesques, and the story is stuffed to the gills with oblique hints that didn't completely help me figure out whether or not I was in an allegorical world. At one stage I thought it was really about cancer or depression, but by the end something more literal was going on. The subtitles often seemed over-egged, and I guess I missed many points of significance. But it's beautiful to watch - as another reviewer noted, this feels like a low budget, grimy version of The Cell. And maybe the title can be explained by the three trips into ... not sure what you'd call it, purgatory? I could be totally wrong, but the scene with Mirra's half-buried dopplegangers reminded me of my sole viewing of the brilliant Russian war film Come And See.

Acting is good, effects are good, but way too much dialogue as characters give us exposition on their own motives - odd flaw in a highly visual production. There's a cartoon montage in the middle, as Ayia flicks through the shaman book - imaginative, but a strangely hammy effect.

Apart from the camera work, the outstanding element is the score by some entity called Moonbeam, with everything thrown in to create an eerie and ethereal atmosphere, with sharp elevations in tension.

Overall, I dunno. One of those movies that on a second viewing might reveal more, or confirm the suspicion of style over substance. As for horror, 'tis a mild one.

I must pinch myself, just to make sure I'm awake. *Pinch*. Talk about arrestingly hypnotic and abstract. And that's the contrasting imagery inside (dreams) and out (landscapes) of the subconscious. Watching "III" is like being caught in a trance. It's visually sublime captured by its elegant cinematography and otherworldly score, but frail storytelling does keep this grim, surrealistic Russian horror-fantasy from reaching great heights.

The style is in the same mould of such psychophysiology films ("The Cell" & "Horsehead") dealing with a journey into the subconscious mind. What transpires is rather sobering and haunting, but how the journey plays out is uniquely puzzling. The natural performances of Piling Davidova and Luibov Ignatushko do share a touching bond as the two sisters caught up in a sickness infecting their small village.

This one was close to a 6 stars on my behalf, but I decided to bring it down to 5, purely on the plot. Coming out with great potential, it feels like it achieved so little, wanting so more, promising the same, but delivering far less.

Perhaps it was a hat too big for the producers, the director, but they surely enough prepared for the movie. The effects, tho lovely, are rare and short, and I think they could have stayed for a little longer. The soundtrack is beyond believable, you'll have to check it out for yourself in order to believe so.

The story, is good, but the execution feels rushed, like they really wanted to get somewhere, and they decided to do it while holding their breath. Still it was an awesome experience, I do recommend this little gem, try something different, you won't be disappointed.

Cheers!

Just got darker and darker. It might be difficult to find the movie under this title anywhere (the Germans just added a sub-title to it to make it easier), but if you find it, you might like its gritty, down and dirty style. The acting and the setup itself is pretty interesting, letting you in the dark for a long time, having to figure out what is going on and what's real and not.

Spiritual and different, this will either be a tease that tastes like something you like or will appall you. It won't be for the masses (obviously), but I do think that those who "get it" (even if it's repeated viewing that takes them there), will love it with all their heart