Notes for Don't Look Now

Film: Don't Look Now

Year Of Release: 1973

Director: Nicolas Roeg

Notes from viewing number 1 (04.10.2021)

Rating: 10/10

- The opening is chilling, from the gentle sound of rain, to the icy blue credits, to the chilling silence, and finally to the haunting screams and moans. Absolutely masterful.

- Right from the start you notice how amazing and groundbreaking the editing is. Kudos to editor Graeme Clifford.

- I love how Roeg subverts how Vien is portrayed in cinema. In most movies, it’s the most romantic place on earth, but in Don't Look Now, it’s a ghost town.

- The infamous sex scene which cuts between the sex and mundane acts is beautiful. A really touching moment, something that you don't expect to see in a horror film.

- The whole cast is ratter good, but it’s Donald Sutherland who really shines. He really disappears into his character and gives possibly his finest performance.

- The way Roeg uses a ghost story to explore grief is frankly genius. I would probably say it's one of the greatest ghost stories ever written.

- The main theme of Don't Look Now is grief, but there are also heavy themes of spirituality that I will without any doubt explore when I review this, because I'm definitely going to review this.

- Roeg's direction is on point. The creative handheld camerawork gives the film a completely unique feel, and the way he turns Vien, one of the most romantic cities in the world, into a ghost town where only the lonely walk, is incredible.

- The ending still packs one hell of a punch today. It’s an audiovisual nightmare sequence that shocks you to the core of your soul and leads you to reflect back on the entire film. One of the great endings in 1970's cinema.

- This film was a first love. I know I’m going to be revisiting this film many times. By far one of my favorite horror films ever, and it’s probably gonna grow on me even more over time.