I can say straight up this will not be a movie for everyone, but it really clicked for me. I would also say a blind watch is preferable in movies like this, I went in knowing almost nothing and if possible I think that's the way to watch the movie if possible.
For me it was incredibly immersive once established, with incredible sound design and score. The slow build of tension, unease and dread as things unfold. I'll admit, I've always been a fan of mediums that give the viewer the same amount of knowledge of whats going on as the characters have, and this nails that.
The premise has a whole has been done many times before, including this years Knock at the Cabin, but I've not seen that or read the book it was based on. But in relation to the other similar films, this takes the top spot for me.
While the ending itself is probably the weakest part of the movie for me personally because it answers just slightly too many questions a little bit too easily, the journey to get there was still worth the time and I think the ending might still work for others.
This is a Netflix series that drew my curiousity for it's interesting premise. It was filmed in Portuguese and I'm assuming those viewers who gave it rave reviews saw it in Portuguese, And those who felt the acting and dialogue were horrible saw it on Netflix, dubbed into English, which is how I first encountered it. And a horrible job of dubbing it was, causing many to abandon the series disappointed. However, I discovered you have the option, in Netflix settings, to choose Portuguese with English subtitles, and, voila, the acting and dialogue issues disappear (except for a few places when Brazilian passion for political speeches overtakes the moment). The pilot is available on YouTube, in Portuguese (no subtitles), so I couldn't start at the beginning of this tale (my Portuguese is non-existent). Netflix doesn't carry the pilot, only seasons 1-3. With the setting corrected, I found the series to be very enjoyable. I give this a 7.5 (really good) out of 10.
Update after Season Three - I have always believed that the weakness of this show was its tendency to melodrama. The last three episodes of this 3rd season fell victim to this, which is why I rated them so low. But it seems it is all set up for a 4th season, so I'm settling into a wait and see position, but I've reduced my rating to a 7 (potential) out of 10. [Dystopian Drama]
<Update after Season 4 - After much loss and sadness they opted for a very optimistic ending, but the contrast made it hard to swallow.
<Altogether, I would recommend this series for it’s unique approach to apocalypse, a talented core cast, and some great writing. I give this series an 8 (well rounded) out of 10.
Amazing,Unpredictable! Watching it was a roller coaster of emotions,sometimes the movie is a dark comedy , after that a romantic comedy, the next minute a revenge thriller, It's tonal shifts made me laught,cry,angry,fearful,happy and eventually made me think a lot about the ending , i think it's going to be devisive between people.But for me it worked and when i play the movie in my head and what this character has been dealing with in her life i think it fits perfectly.I felt satisfied
The subject matter we're dealing with here is very challenging to adress in a movie and Emerald Fennell(writer and first time director) is not afraid of exposing all the parties involved when something like that happen and how everyone involved could deal with it , she knocked it out of the park.
Carey Mulligan gives what i think migt be the best performance of her career , i really hope she could snag an Oscar nomination
She killed it as Cassandra this young woman with a tragic past who's on a journey of her own trying avenge what happened to her , perfectly casted here and i wouldn't imagine someone else taking that role.
You don't really know how to feel about her like sometimes she's likable and funny , the next minute she goes dark and very serious and frightening , those shift personnalities were well executed! The cast was great too , everyone nailed their part really !
The movie does not answer eveything that happened , there a times you wonder what happened to that guy and what happened to that woman because they don't show you so you make your own image of the events or you trust Cassandra's word's which i very much liked, it leaves you making you own assumption for some parts.
Overall, the movie is well directed , the writing is so strong here and a screenplay oscar nomination is very plausible and it's just very a beautiful movie to watch , the colours the cinematography, the sets, it's like you're in a candy world , the soundtarck is great and the use of music was on point .
This movie is ambitious and important and i don't think it will be forgotten by people , it just needs time to grow .
Somehow I hadn't seen this until last weekend. I should not have waited this long, because this is a great film. Mia Farrow is great in this, and you really feel like you're in her shoes the whole way. Great cinematography as well. The shots down the hall of people on the phone are wonderful. You fell like the character, trying to peak around the corner and understand what is happening.
So that is all I can talk about without spoilers. Stop now if you haven't seen it.
If I had only seen half of this, I'd have been pretty disappointed. Some of the acting is bad, plot holes are jumping out, the story arc is predictable, etc. And then I get to the end and every single thing leading to this was perfect.
That bad acting was bad acting by the character, not the actor. You realize that everyone around her that is in on the Satanism is faking what they want Rosemary to think. The people not in on this are acting well. Her friends comfort her and seem real because they actually tell her the truth of what they think.
I love the fact that when you're going through it, you're wondering if she is crazy or if this is real. I wasn't sure how it would end, but close to the last scene I thought she'd grab that antichrist and dive out a window. I suppose that is still a possibility, but the film just cuts out beforehand. Instead of deciding for you, it is up to the viewer to predict what side she's on going forward.
I thought I'd give a 4.5 at first, but then the more I thought the more I realized that I really wanted to watch again to learn more about everything. That is absolutely a 5.
Now that I’ve watched the entire series in literally one sitting, I’m ready to go back and go through it more slowly. Maybe take notes on each ep about the things I love and things that might trigger others.
There is just so much world-building for all that it is set right here and now. The layers of detail and the breadth of the world created is just fascinating.
Each location truly feels separate, probably because they did actually film on location heh. And each culture feels very distinct which creates such a sense of realism.
I am genuinely impressed with the technical aspects of this show: directing, writing, editing, cinematography, etc. But the heart of it is the chemistry between the main cast and how well they demonstrate the sudden intimacy that their new situations create.
Nothing felt inevitable, there was always a sense of risk and possibility. At the same time, the things that do happen feel right and true to the characters and situations. It’s masterful.
I feel so fortunate that this show exists and that I got to see it.
All that said, there are some incredibly intense moments in the show. There is a suicide in the early part of episode one. Later there is various levels of gore and violence. And if you have any bodily issues, the fact that the show in no way ignores the biological issues of cis women’s bodies might shock you.
As far as I can recall, however, there is no animal harm or rape/attempted rape. I specifically recall a scene where I was like, “oh thank fuck! he’s only trying to murder her.”
At the end of the day, the people I cared about survived and/or triumphed enough that the hardships they went through felt worth it. Intensity level-wise (language, sex, violence, plot) I would compare it to Starz’s Spartacus series. Quality-wise too, it’s that good.
