(https://i.imgur.com/JVclbjq.png)
Studio: Lionsgate
Release Date: 2/28/2023
Rating: R
Film Grade: C-
The Story: Meet Mr. Hall Baltimore, bottom-tier horror author, struggling to find a suitable subject for his next novel as he travels from town to town, hawking his books from signing to signing.
What Mr. Baltimore doesn’t realize is that he’s about to find his next inspiration in an unlikely little town called Swan Valley, once home to a serial killer it now harbors ghosts, and perhaps even some vampires.
My Take: Frances Ford Coppola has re-edited his original 2011 film Twixt into his definitive version of the work. I’ve never seen the original, so can only comment on this new version.
This is an odd movie, exhibiting inconsistent moods and feelings. There are scenes that are intentionally humorous that verge on silly. Others are terribly serious and grim. Literary allusions abound, some made almost painfully obvious. It’s hard to say if this disjointed feeling is a product of the new editing, or if the story itself is at fault. It was based on a dream that Coppola had, one that he woke up from before it was over, and the ending of this version is a letdown from where the story started.
There are some interesting elements in it, and the movie starts out great. Opening narration by Tom Waits sets the stage for the mysterious Swan Grove, home of a seven-sided clock tower, each face displaying a different hour and minute and which is said to be inhabited by the devil. Add to that an abandoned hotel that was the site of the gruesome murders, an eccentric sheriff who also fancies himself as a writer, and a band of teens that may be vampires. The setup is intriguing, but the film itself plays out as a lesser version of discarded ideas from David Lynch.
It looks like Coppola had fun with his cast, with a variety of performances. Val Kilmer plays author Baltimore as a sympathetic, yet somewhat desperate drinking man, trying to find a way to keep the bills paid while being hit with writer’s block. Bruce Dern comes close to hamming it up as the sheriff, while Don Novello (best known to us older folks as Father Guido Sarducci) has the most humorous performance as a clock repairman. On the other end of the spectrum, we have Anthony Fusco as a pastor, Elle Fanning as an apparition, and Ben Chapman playing a very serious version of Edgar Allan Poe.
The filming techniques and styles are somewhat reminiscent of Coppola’s Dracula movie, but in a much smaller-scale package. There are a number of day-for-night shots, with the almost monochromatic blue-grays being occasionally accented by bright, deep reds. The look is compelling and really gives one the feeling of a dream state. Produced at just seven million dollars, it has the feel of a small-budget film, but that works for this kind of movie.
Video: This digitally-shot movie looks great on disc. Colors pop when needed, there’s nothing in the way of noticeable noise, even in dark scenes. There are shots that are clearly special effects, but it doesn’t distract from the movie, only reinforcing the feeling of the dream that inspired it.
Audio: A simple 5.1 soundtrack doesn’t really stand out in any way. There are a small number of panning effects, some voicework that sounds out of place, with nothing that would qualify as demo material. Serviceable, but nothing special.
Special Features: The movie includes a making-of documentary filmed by Coppola’s granddaughter, Gia. In some ways it’s more interesting than the movie itself, showing some behind the scenes problems and Coppola’s time directing and time on the set. Part of it deals with struggle for Fanning’s time, as another studio demanded she be available for their production.
Final Verdict: I really liked what Coppola brought to his version of Dracula, and wanted to see what he could do with another similar tale. Unfortunately, this one just collapses under its own weight, with a script that feels like torn pieces taped back together, never producing a full picture, with an ending that just doesn’t satisfy. While it can be classified as horror, it’s never frightening or shocking.
This is only recommended for huge fans of Coppola, or for anyone seeking something that is quirky, offbeat, mildly amusing in spots, and different than the usual Hollywood product.
Odd Quote: “You know who came up with Daylight Savings Time, don't you? Hitler. And you know who supports it now? Doctors. And you know why? Golf. They want more time to golf. That's what it's all about. You can't change time. Time changes you.” It was weird to hear this as we were watching this on the night we all get to set our clocks back an hour.
https://youtu.be/S7PrAoBi3rY
My Review System:
JVC DLA-RS3100 4K Ultra High-Definition Front Projector
Elite Screens Sable Frame B2 117” Width with Infinitely Variable Height
Monolith by Monoprice HTP-1 16 Channel Processor with Dirac Live
Monolith by Monoprice 7x200 Watts Amp
Monolith by Monoprice 3x200 Watts + 6x100 Watts Amp
JBL Studio 590 for Left, Center, Right, Wides, and Rears
JBL Studio 580 for Side Surrounds
JBL Studio SCS 8 for Tops
JTR Captivator 1400 Subwoofer X 4
Panasonic DP-UB420 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
NVIDIA Shield Android TV - 4K
Xbox One X
HTPC Running madVR (work in progress)
Remote: URC MX-780
Mini DSP 2X4 HD controlling all subwoofers
APC S15 Power Conditioner with Battery Backup