Mandy

Hard to nail down my feelings on this one. I appreciate its existence and often deeply loved its vivid stylisation, but there was something about it that held it back from truly sinking its teeth in.

Where to start with the memorable details? The cenobite-like bikers are a highlight - always captured with just the right level of lighting, they maintain their demonic mystery throughout. The landscapes are buildings are often gleefully phantasmagoric, as if existing in some alternate (and hellish) dimension. While it doesn't topple Bad Lieutenant from my own personal top spot in the 'manic Nic Cage' stakes, the man manages both to be riotously funny and uncomfortably intense here - while I'm sure many will favour the bathroom scene, .

On one hand, I appreciate the time given to let things escalate and for the mood to crystalise. I'm glad they keep Andrea Riseborough around as long as they do - she easily gives the best performance here (sorry, Nic). Not to mention that the scene where her face repeatedly fades in and out Linus Roache's is transcendentally good. Although, like Nicolas Winding Refn at his most indulgent, sometimes the long, drawn out scenes stick around without necessarily finding any deeper impact by doing so. But generally, the slow, ominous first half ( ) is well-judged.

It does build to what's an absolutely predictable revenge denouncement. Don't get me wrong - it's extremely well delivered, from the manic intensity of it all to moments of glorious madness ( ). But for all its visceral visuals, demonic characters, moments of vast portent, and lunatic religious / sexualised symbolism... I'm still not really convinced there's a whole lot more to it than a well-realised piece of schlock.

It's another reminder of what a goddamn loss Jóhann Jóhannsson will prove over the coming years. Generally, this film just an engrossing audio barrage and it's a hell of a spectacle in that sense. Don't do it a disservice and watch it at home - films like this are what late night cinema trips are made for.

I do think the very recent Climax is a more satisfying and focused cinematic journey into hell, but hey this is its own thing as well. There's probably not much under the hood here, but the hood is an acid-infused psychedelic hellscape - so that's definitely something.