Night 13: ‘Don’t look now’ (1973)

The attack of the weird 70’s films continues, this time with less cannibalism but a lot more sex –A LOT!- and a mysterious string of unsolved murders.

In Venice, John (Donald Sutherland) and Laura (Julie Christie) meet an enigmatic duo of sisters who can see the spirit of their recently deceased daughter. This revitalizes Laura, but her obsession with the occult troubles her husband, who chooses his work as his medium of healing.

However, everything changes when the psychic who saw the little girl warns them about an upcoming evil, just as several unexplainable events begin to occur, and someone in a red coat –similar to their daughter’s- haunts the city.

‘Don’t look now’ tells this story of overcoming grief and inexplicable manifestations with a masterful use of cinematography that creates a rather fuzzy atmosphere. One of the best parts of the entire movie is its opening sequence, where both camera and editing manage to create a confusing string of events that captures your attention since the very start.

The convincing and lovely relationship between the two leads also helps. The chemistry between them seems authentic, so when they are struggling or trying to figure out what is happening around them, we truly want them to succeed.

Yet, it’s not that easy!

The film tumbles between the paranormal, the psychological and the emotional without providing an effortless answer. This is great for creating a movie that is certainly intriguing from beginning to end, but a little disappointing when it comes to the resolution in itself.

The ending is abrupt, and nothing is either explained or at least solidified so unquestionably that it makes you feel as if you have a firm grasp on what was going on the entire time. Perhaps, some of the time that the film spent on that particularly long sex scene could have been used here, so we don’t end up feeling a little disenchanted.

Nonetheless, it’s a movie that deserves a re-watch –and perhaps a second viewing will reveal more hints and information that might pacify my need for a little something more.

Grade: 6/10. Confusing.

Scare Factor: not particularly scary.

Gore/violence: almost none.

Nudity/sexual situations: don’t watch this one with your parents!

Next: ‘Prince of Darkness’ (1987)