Ravenous is a film which has stayed with me ever sense its depiction of humorously horrific cannibalism was scraped across my eyes in all of its crimson glory. A film of such off-kilter personality that it defied simple categorisation. Early on, this was one of the few pictures which displayed the power of filmmaking to me, the means of toying with your audience, and just how useful and emotionally moving a musical composition can truly be. Ravenous screwed with me in the best possible way. It proved to me that "genre" is in the eye of the beholder and that sometimes narrative and musical structure doesn't have to bow to convention whatsoever. Not content to simply change the rules of cinematic engagement via music alone, Ravenous also sets itself apart by offering an imaginative storyline with numerous twists and incredible characterisations. The only thing better than watching this with someone, is watching it with someone who thinks they know where the story is going to go. The film's central turn of events still gives me chills and the final confrontation between good and evil remains one of the most beautifully brutal bouts of neglected cinema out there. Empowered by the act of cannibalism, the reluctant hero Boyd and nefarious villain Colonel Ives set upon one another with sickles, fists, blocks of wood and pitchforks. It's a wonderfully macabre brawl, one which ends inside the mouth of a giant, rusted bear-trap. Many might observe Ravenous as, "Oh, yeah, that Guy Pearce film...the one before Memento", but to simply rub it off as a horror film about cannibalism is to negate all of the amazing things such a piece has to offer. Things which other films in the last twenty years have either neglected to do, or simply been incapable of doing. Ravenous is a film beyond duplication. There's such a genius at work here that it truly lifts it above the star-studded pack into a dimension all its own. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oEhOxIG-1g
Greetings from The Yentz! The Warrior of the Wasteland! The Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla!
I live, eat and breathe film... And videogames... And comics... And, well... Anything that might be considered "nerd related".
I consider myself the voice against that of mainstream cinema. While critics might praise the ostentatious drivel supplied by Oscar-pandering films, I enjoy directing attention to less popular gems in hopes of educating people on incredible film experiences that may not be backed by massive studios, nominations and a star-studded cast.
Outside of WhatCulture!, I write for Movieweb, assisted BlueCat as a script analyst, have worked on films from the east coast to the west and continue to write, critique and direct here in the lovable land of ol' LA.
I hope you enjoy reading my diatribes as much as I enjoy writing them.
