I enjoyed this film very much, the slow pace, the disturbing
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sambogni61 — 20 years ago(April 21, 2005 08:38 AM)
One more in the same vein: Paperhouse (1989, I think)British, I think, but I haven't seen it since it came out. Has the childhood fantasy/horror plot element, and pretty atmospheric, too. Worth a look.
Also, this is a little askew to that theme, but Jan Svankmajer's (sp?) Alice has a nicely dark tone to the very familiar story.
Hope that helps, and thanks everyone else for all the recommendations. My Netflix queue just grew. -
Donald_McKinney — 20 years ago(June 16, 2005 03:20 AM)
Although it's not out until later this year, I recommend Terry Gilliam's Tideland. They sound spookily similar!! They're both set out in middle-America, the main character is a kid with an overactive imagination, and they have a strange neighbour. And they're both set in America, but both shot in Canada. Coincidence??
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ramifications — 20 years ago(September 03, 2005 06:49 AM)
uutuus I think I know what it is you are looking for. The Reflecting Skin is one of my favorite films. I'm guessing you are looking for something lurking in an open space instead of the obvious claustrophobic film. something intense, intelligent, unnerving and haunting. something evil that found it's way inside a serene picture. something good trying to escape an ugly place, or something ugly trying to slip into a good place. Sometimes to hide in plain sight is more frightening than dark corners we can avoid.
In short, it's about contrast.
Here are 10 films in no particular order with the same feel:
Felicia's Journey
The Pledge
Flesh and Bone
Twin Falls Idaho
Santa Sangre
Frailty
Suspiria
The Wisdom of Crocodiles
Kalifornia
The Talented Mr.Ripley -
uutuus — 20 years ago(September 06, 2005 01:49 AM)
Thank you all, for your recommendations!
It is interesting to see what films people come to think of when using the Reflecting Skin as a starting point. What most films (but I have not heard of all your recommendations, so I might be wrong) in common is the focus on disturbance, people in desperate situations. But this is something that can take many shapes:
The Innocents
The Pledge
Picnic at Hanging Rock
The Butcher Boy
(I saw Clark's Bully yesterday, a film that mercilessly captures how people cannot BEAR what they have done ALONE, they have to share their stories and guilt)
Ramification, you give a beautiful description of films that I look for, films that portray "something evil that found it's way inside a serene picture", as you put it.
Again: Thanks a lot!!! -
sccreative — 20 years ago(September 22, 2005 02:07 AM)
stuart kenny 33 is quite right about "tideland" i can't WAIT for this film to come out and it most certainly suggests a similar atmosphere and approach to "the reflecting skin" (if you're interested, the entertaining and moody spooky website for tideland can be found at: http://www.tidelandthemovie.com/intro.html) in fact, it was the very thing that made me look into "reflecting skin" again
but i mostly wanted to respond to your query to suggest "vigil", a haunting and magical film from new zealand which i probably discovered about the same time as "reflecting skin", so i have them sort of indelibly locked together.
"But it doesn't mean anything" a Von Trapp kid. -
Dxfiler — 20 years ago(October 14, 2005 12:35 AM)
This is a fantastic thread. It's enough to make me post my first post ever.
I've seen alot of the films above and agree they are similar to the "Reflecting Skin". Another movie I'd like to add to the list is "Northfork." It's extremely atmospheric, arguably as tragic, and just a tad more surrealisitc. The setting plays a HUGE role in the film. There are also various religious references, just more obvious than in "Reflecting Skin."
I haven't seen Wicker Man yet (I know, I know :p), but I've heard that's on the same level as Reflecting Skin so i can't wait to see it.
Again thanks for the thread.- Dxfiler
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activista — 20 years ago(January 09, 2006 03:42 PM)
Here's one I thought was in exactly the same spiritor treaded the same spookily disturbing ground as THE REFLECTING SKINa very dark 1989 comedy-drama called PARENTSwith an emphasis on the "dark" part by writer/director Bob Balaban (who played in that weird 1980 Ken Russell flick,ALTERED STATES). I'm actually surprised no one's mentioned PARENTS,considering it's also about a young boy who has some truly,dark disturbing nightmares for his age that seem to center around his parents,who are portrayed as the ideal 1950's married couple (the time period which it's set in) and how he gradually uncovered an extremely frightening secret about said parents. Worth retning outI saw it years ago when it came outit only played in a handful of theatres with very little promotion,none near me-and was chilled to the bone by it. It stars Randy Quaid and Mary Beth Hurt as the seemingly normal parents.
Saw THE REFLECTING SKIN on VHS some years backI have to say it did leave a "WTF was that?" kind of impression on me,even though it's one of my least favorite filmsto me it was way too dark and mean-spirited for its own good,plus it had no soulyou never really felt anything for the characters. I've always though Viggo M. was hot,ever since I saw him in G.I. JANE with Demi Moore,and it is kind of surprising that this flick hasn't been rushed out on DVD just to capitalize on his presence here,since he does have a substantial part in it. It's one-messed-up movie,though. Check out PARENTSdon't know if it's on DVD,either. -
cousinscove77 — 20 years ago(February 14, 2006 05:26 AM)
the spirit is "Heavenly creatures" one. And "Eraserhead" in disturbing eye and consciousness. "Io non ho paura" more for the landscapes and atmospheres than others.
"so much going on
and I wish to hold on" -
uutuus — 19 years ago(April 10, 2006 04:18 AM)
It warms my heart to see that this thread (that I started two years ago) lives on, with serious recommendations and a good discussion.
Thank you all!!!
Of the latest recommendations
Vigil, Tideland (Gilliam), Northfolk, Wicker Man, Parents, Secret Rapture and Lolo
are all films I haven't seen.
Tideland and Secret Rapture are the only ones I had heard of before, and thanks to you lot I have now heard of the rest and have something to look for, or will recognize if I stumble upon a mentioned title in the video store or on tv.
It's nice that some of these films and others earlier mentioned take a grip on the comic side of childhood and other miserable subjects. I could see more of good films that bring up the (necessary?) tension between seriousness and humour.
Some good films that could suit on this thread are (with very few opportunities for laughter, though):
The Return (Vozvrashcheniye)
http://www.imdb.com/board/10376968/
One of those films that creates an almost meditative concentration with the viewer. The film has a very good story.
The Quiet Room
http://www.imdb.com/board/10117422/
By Rolf de Heer who also made the wonderful Alexandra's Project (and eh, Bad Boy Bubby)
Lilja 4-ever
http://www.imdb.com/board/10300140/
An uncompromising film filled with rage and sadness, one of the most important films I have ever seen.