Don't Look Now

When a great artist, and a great artist is what Nicolas Roeg is, tells us a tale of horrors, the results are, usually, unique, overwhelming, unforgettable. "Don't Look Now" redefines the genre. I was paralyzed by fear and totally involved in the bizarre predicament of the protagonists. Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie are remarkable. A married couple enveloped in the unspeakable sadness provoked by the loss of their young daughter. Then, in Venice, among the rot, the beauty and the darkness, a ray of light. But this is not the kind of light that lets you see, no, this light is terrifying because it will persuade you to follow it. I've seen the film 9 hours ago and it's still with me...I can smell the stench of the most beautiful city in the world and I close my eyes, hoping that it's just a dream. "Don't Look Now" is a masterpiece.

When I first saw Don't Look Now 4 years ago, I was genuinely unnerved by it, and while it was a film I appreciated more than loved I saw it for the great film it was. Now on re-watch, not only has the impact been left undiminished but I now love this movie. Visually the film is very stylish and haunting, yet there is something very sumptuous and symbolic about it too. The haunting music and sound further add to the atmosphere, as does the screenplay and Nicholas Roeg's superb direction. Don't Look Now also has a great story, it has a touch of poignancy, but it scores best when it is shocking and atmospheric, one scene in particular involving the figure in the red cloak affected me so much I couldn't sleep for days when I first saw it. Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie are note-perfect in their roles. All in all, really effective then and now. 10/10 Bethany Cox

An exquisitely haunting, very memorable drama, this is a uniquely directed, well acted and superbly photographed film of searching for what feels to be missing, and the tragic results that can occur. The Italian setting provides the film with a strong sense of the Gothic but also an ominous sense of otherness. In a foreign land with different customs, culture and architecture, the characters feel lost, but yet the mysterious, unknown element of the new setting provides a sense of hope. The director has used a number of tricks to emphasise certain details. These may have no meaning at the time, but their re-occurrence throughout the film adds to the haunting atmosphere. The film also has this amazing power to make almost anything seem foreboding and sinister. There is an undeniable musty B-grade feel to the film, but there is so much else to admire here, that it does not detract at all from the viewing experience. It is an intriguing, gripping and powerful watch.