Critically acclaimed internationally, Marjane Satrapi’s lyrical adaptation of her graphic novel of the same name has finally made the world (or, rather, the American market) safe for European, black-and-white animated films by alt-cartoonists. But while Satrapi chronicled the horrors of growing up during the Iran-Iraq War, Fear(s) of the Dark is more concerned with exploring existential dread.
Fear(s) is an anthology of several unconnected vignettes, each conceived and directed by a different artist. Anthologies are nothing new in the world of comix, but the anthology film can be a chore to sit through — especially when a particular segment falls flat. Luckily, Fear(s) boasts some of today’s top graphic storytellers, including American cartoonist Charles Burns (whose stellar Black Hole will soon get the Hollywood treatment — shudder), French master-illustrator Blutch, illustrator Marie Calliou, and animator Richard McGuire, to name a few. Each artist utilizes a completely unique art style, and though some stories are less satisfying than others, none are visually dull.
While narratively unrelated, each story is centered around themes of fear, isolation, and cruelty, and most of the major phobias are represented — sometimes subliminally — to ensure maximum creepiness. The first cringe-inducing (yet beautifully charcoal-rendered) entry, by Blutch, features a sadistic aristocrat leading a pack of snarling, vicious dogs on a hunt for innocent victims. Calliou, who’s big in Japan, follows young Sumako as she copes with both a traumatizing attack by her new schoolmates and the threatening ghost of an evil samurai. McGuire’s section is a textbook example of effective use of negative space (Frank Miller should take notes). Only the white face and hands of our protagonist — a man who stumbles into a haunted house during a blizzard — are visible against the jet-black screen, and the impressive sound design fills in the rest.
Burns’ contribution, my personal favorite, spins what could be a standard Twilight Zone plot into a darkly comic examination of relationship decay. Socially inept science nerd Eric can’t believe his luck when he finally lands a girlfriend, but he soon learns the hard way that sex changes everything — especially when the mysterious, vaginal-looking cut on her arm sprouts a phallic, insect-like appendage soon after doing the deed. The peril of sex is a recurring theme for Burns, who has a habit of giving his characters symbolic deformities to illustrate their inner qualities (the teens of Black Hole contract an STD called “the bug,” which turns them into hideous mutants).
Poetic symbolism is about as frightening as it gets in Fear(s) of the Dark, which doesn’t really inspire much actual fear (though the magnitude of artistic talent involved can be downright scary). Ultimately, Fear(s) is more psychological than psycho-killer. If you’re expecting Saw VI, you’re at the wrong movie … although, if it’s any consolation, I did count at least four decapitated heads.
I have no idea how I never, ever heard of this movie before, but it looks amazing.
Charles Burns is one of my favorite comic novelists (Black Hole is one of the best graphic novels I’ve ever read) and he directed a segment of this anthology film along with French cartoonist Blutch and some other artists I’m not familiar with (but probably should be). The Burns section (with the human-size mantises) blows my mind — it’s just like his artwork, only moving. If this is one of the effects of Persepolis being a critical hit, then I love that film even more. And while I know there’s a pretty certain chance that Fear(s) of the Dark will never, ever play in San Antonio, I can’t wait to check it out on DVD sometime in 2009.
Anyway, the international trailer is embedded below, and here’s a link to the U.S. version, for those of you into cheesy narration.
UPDATE 3: Click here to see the trailer in HD. I’ve watched it a few times and I’m liking it more and more (even the song … sigh).
UPDATE 2: I think Empire took it down until tomorrow. Watch this space.
UPDATE: The trailer’s up. Go here to check it out!
I just got back from a screening of The Dark Knight (I’ll have my review up by Friday, but in a word: WOW) and was lucky to catch the teaser trailer for what is now my most anticipated comic-book adaptation: Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ Watchmen. Zack Snyder, of 300 fame, is directing — and he might as well be holding the geek community’s baby. We love this book more than our moms (just kidding, Mom!)
Devin Faraci at chud.com posted a really accurate description of the trailer, but I’m throwing my own two cents in after the jump. But I’m not a republic serial villain, so I’ll try to keep things spoiler-light …
Persepolis, the French animated film by Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Parronaud (adapted from Satrapi’s graphic novels of the same name) hit DVD on June 24. If you like comics, you have to see this movie. If you like animated films, you have to see this movie. If you like cinema at all — if you want to see something unique, challenging, gorgeous, and human — put Persepolis in your queue.
I reviewed the film back in January when it was in theaters (actually, probably just one: The Bijou) and I’m reposting my full Persepolis review after the jump. I still feel the same way about as I did six months ago.
