This is the movie I think of whenever I hear the phrase "all style over substance". It's visually striking, has an interesting premise and incredibly intriguing..... but unfortunately the terrible ending ends up poisoning the entire thing. This movie is a mystery along with being a horror movie and unfortunately the mystery aspect becomes a train wreck because absolutely nothing is resolved due to its extremely ambiguous and artsy ending. If you watch this movie do not expect any payoff.
Very, very good!
'Censor' features a great premise and it turns out to be one that is executed excellently. The feel of the film throughout is near perfection, with the tone all right and the 1980s aesthetic seemingly on point. It's paced ideally, with zero moments of drag.
Niamh Algar puts in a super performance as lead. I recently watched her also impress in television's 'Deceit' - which was broadcast within a week or so of this production's cinema release, there are actually some (minor) similarities between the two; a set of dark roles for Algar, that's for sure! She's the clear standout, though props to the support cast too.
Looking at a few other reviews, it seems to come down to how effective the ending is to you. For me? I think it's a great conclusion.
[Sitges FF] The director revisits nasty movies after her short film "Nasty" (2015) to propose a reflection on the hysteria about violence in cinema, in an England that repressed striking workers. Interesting metalanguage about the image and its representation, although it seems that it doesn't have much to contribute to the debate. There is an exceptional visual aspect in the protagonist's journey to hell.
This was absolutely terrible. Everything about the moviw was just plain bad. Shortest review ever but there is just nothing ro say about it apart from don't waste your time.
The final minutes were incredibly unsettling. Wow. Similar vibes to 'Saint Maude'
I actually thought it was pretty good. You could definitely feel her madness.
This and 'Kill List' was a completely accidental Michael Smiley double bill. Certainly not complaining.
This one becomes too ambitious for its own good I think. I dug it though, good concept.
Beautiful style over not much of a substance. This movies wants so hard to be Lynchian, but just can't pull it off.
Started out fine. However, the problem was that there wasn't anything meaningful at the tail end of it. Could have been wrapped up so much better.
while I completely appreciate the High Tension nod this was very underwhelming. fun twists with characters yet not enough for a proper spook.
The best thing that can be said about Censor is that its runtime is mercifully less than an hour and a half. While the acting was decent enough, the story never seemed to gather any traction at all so you were basically left to follow along aimlessly, wondering if they knew where they were going. (They didn't.) The conclusion was a confusing mess that has me still scratching my head; I mean, I think I know what their aim was but it was just very poorly executed so (speaking only for myself) you're left thinking, "Huh? Was that... Did I... What...?"
Looks like there are several high marks to offset several low marks on this one so obviously, it's not everyone's cup of tea. If you can sit through this one, then dab a linen napkin at the corner of your mouth and say, "My! What a jolly good psychological thriller this was; quite entertaining, eh wot?" then I suppose that makes you "cultivated" or part of some "high society" that pretends they understand all the nuances of every film you sit through. News flash: Some films - this being one of them - don't have any nuances, subtle or otherwise. This was just a poorly-made film that wasn't executed properly. Possibly a good idea (but even that is suspect) but there were a number of ways this could have been much, much better. At only 84 minutes, though, I wouldn't wave any red flags saying, "Don't waste your time!" It's just not as good as its made out to be.
Nothing terrible but nothing really good about this one. Pretty meh all around.
The film somehow lands on both sides of the censorship debate! Its pretty good, and will resonate with anybody who remembers the video nasty debates that echoed throughout the 80s.
In Thatcher’s England, there was a lot of hysteria about how horror movies on home video - Video Nasties - could potentially find their way into the hands of children and the working class to “deprave and corrupt” them. No mention was made about how, if this were the case, the people who watched and censored them would avoid becoming depraved and corrupted themselves. This movie satirises that whole situation. It’s aesthetically beautiful, anchored by a great lead performance from Niamh Algar, with lots of creepy and funny bits along the way.
Anyway, the whole video nasties scare was a political beat-up by the Tories to distract from their horrific policies and if you watch this movie you should also watch the documentary Video Nasties: Moral Panic, Censorship & Videotape, which tells the whole story.
Not gonna lie this movie gave me a massive headache. I guess thats good for a horror movie.
Great movie though loved the aesthetic
entertaining enough, and decently acted. very nice aesthetic if you're into the 80s/90s throwback genre.
A beautiful film with some great color and sound choices. However, the story is lacking - there's not really any substance here. It's extra frustrating because there is so much to explore.
This was an interesting movie. The visual style was good, exciting to watch. I don't know if this was a realistic view of the life of a movie censor but wow - how bleak. And the horror aspect of this movie was well told.
How I rate:
1-3 :heart: = seriously! don't waste your time
4-6 :heart: = you may or may not enjoy this
7-8 :heart: = I expect you will like this too
9-10 :heart: = movies and TV shows I really love!
ippadi oru kandraaviyaana padatthai paarthathillai.. your honour
Pretentious nonsense that becomes a complete tonal mess by bouncing between a surrealist and realistic tone in a very jarring way. Also, it can get unintentionally funny and the character choices that are made after the scene where she visits the producer do not add up with how this character has been established. I’ll give it some credit for the acting and cinematography, but this is overall a terrible art film that feels like a lesser version of Enemy.
3/10
Shout by CaesarBlockedParent2021-06-18T20:08:46Z
Coming in with high expectations, it didn't disappoint. Censor is a psychological horror film about Enid, a film censor who has a troubled past and one of the film she evaluate triggers her past memory and pushes her down into the rabbit hole. There are some interesting ideas and elements that works really well with video nasties as part of the aesthetic of the film. It's filled with dread and tension with uncanny atmosphere. It's not all gory and full of scares but it focuses more on exploring how the main character deals with her past that soon disconnects herself from reality. It's one of those films that demands multiple viewings because there are a couple of moments that leave questions. The lead performance is terrific! I really dig the visual style. Even more impressive considering it's a directorial debut. It's shot incredibly well. There are some great lighting and color choices. The transitions between scenes are stylish and the score used fits well with the picture. I wish it explores its themes a bit deeper but overall it's a fantastic journey!