Mandy (2018) - Panos Cosmatos 9/10

#MIFF2018 #masterpiece

This is not your run-of-the-mill horror film, it's dark and sinister tones are reminiscent of the 70s & 80s horror and slasher films, a bygone era which is clearly prominent throughout this twisted tale. Much like the remake of MANIAC (2012) by Franck Khalfoun & written by the horror master Alexandre Aja, here we have another audio / visual treat that captivates you to no end. MANDY pushes things even further if could try to imagine that for a moment, and Panos Cosmatos does it in spades, all while packing a brutal punch like the MANIAC remake.

The story is set in 1983, not a coincidence there being at the height of the horror period, in a small town where Red Miller (Nicholas Cage) and Mandy Bloom (Andrea Riseborough) live a chilled life, Red as a forestry worker & Mandy an artist who works at the local shop. Their simple life is interrupted by a cult with a satanic approach, looking for a fresh prey to perform a ritual sacrifice. Soon follows an angry Nicholas Cage to seek revenge for the brutal horror that unfolds...

Most would say that synopsis sounds so cliche, and yes you would be right if this revenge thriller was delivered directly to the screen from the script without much sizzle added... MANDY is a totally different beast. MANDY doesn't just add some sizzle, more like a hurricane of explosive mayhem onto the unsuspecting viewer!

Indie film maker Panos Cosmatos is not your typical Hollywood type trying to cash in on the genre, like so many do and fail nowadays with franchise reboots remakes and endless borry sequels. Cosmatos has more in common with the likes of Dario Argento and John Carpenter than anyone else from this era, only Alexandre Aja I'd consider a contemporary master up to the same level as Cosmatos.

The best part of this promising talent is MANDY is Panos' 2nd feature, he's just getting warmed up! The main thing that prompted me to watch this film initially was the chatter and excitement around his debut BEYOND THE BLACK RAINBOW (2010), of which many a friend highly recommended. Nothing to do with Nicholas Cage, tho here Nic is perfectly cast as the outrageous maniac who will go at no lengths to avenge his love.

From the grueling bikies and lurking gouls who would fuck you with a knife if given the chance... one nail smothered monster sports exactly that in his sexual drug infested dungeon of pain and excess. Another evil fucker wears a Hockey mask similar to Jason. A bunch of hippies take LSD and summon these demon beasts to do their bidding and hunt down innocent people for ritual sacrifice.

What separates MANDY from other modern films is the visual intensity which is like an acid cocktail, combined with the incredible final score by Jóhann Jóhannsson. Visually they have gone all-out, dark murky images, lens flair and Lynchian strobing, in fact the whole thing is a big homage to Lynch visually and in tone. I normally don't like that flamboyant use of effects like a JJ Abrahm's Star Trek remake, but here it works. How? Cause the visuals have purpose to suit the mood of the scene. Being a huge Gaspar Noé fan, this film appeases me in the same way Gaspar does visually, like a room filled with psychedelic static, like floating in a lava lamp.

This is essential on the big screen, a true audio / visual thrill ride, a cinematic experienced pushed to the outer limits and beyond, all while keeping it's humour intact and exaggerated gore urging you to burst out laughing at the extremities. There aren't many horror treats that get it this right and goes all the way. No holes barred, more like tearing holes with relentless fearsome spirit. It's always refreshing to see a film maker who is pushing the limits and not settling for a traditional genre film like horror, playing it safe. He could've toned it down and reached a larger audience... nah fuck that, go deep Panos Cosmatos and keep up the high octane master stroke you have delivered here!