At last a proper classic movie to review and then I’ve seen the next two on the list so I know this won’t last long. Staring Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie ‘Don’t Look Now’ or ‘A Venezia... un Dicembre rosso’ as it was released in Italy. Which google translate tells me means - In Venice.. a red December. It was released in 1973 and I remember watching as a young man expecting a classic horror movie and I got one of the longest sex scenes I can remember and I have to say it put me off the movie rather than draw me in as a young perv this surprised me but it could be that by then I had already seen Donald Sutherland grow up and seeing him young and naked was enough thank you. It took me a while to return back to this movie to fully appreciate the dynamic and the gritty and darkness of this slow creeping movie. 71% maybe a low score for a classic movie but I think I’ve already explained why.
This happy *sarcastic* movie begins with a young couple and their young daughter taking a walk by a stream (or a creak) the young girl is wearing a vivid red jacket and she falls into the water and sadly drowns. Donald pulls her out too late and there is a scene of him cradling this little red jacketed blonde girl in his arms and wailing which will stay with me forever. Just like Sesame Street the theme of this movie is definitely water and red as it reoccurs many times through this movie. In order to get over this devastation and as his works also dictates that they go to room this is where they work on a replacement child – see previous paragraph. I am going to be a bit hazy here as I may have this part a bit wrong. But they are staying in Venice where there is a serial killer roaming the streets. Meanwhile Julie meets a pair of old ladies one of which is blind in the normal way but has second sight and can see into the future she warns her that her Husband is peril and basically puts the wind up her. She conveys the fears to Donald who says it’ll be fine. But should he be afraid? Well that would be ruin the end of the movie wouldn’t it.
I like this movie and would recommend it as well but it is very slow. It is not in any way shape or form a cheery movie. It paints a very different picture of Venice than the tourist board videos would paint. It is very dark and grey and dingy which is ideal to hide the movements of a serial killer skulking about the streets or canals you decide. It is a sad story that starts in the worse position possible and then follows the couple coming to terms with it and how they both deal with the shit they’ve been dealt and beyond the scene mentioned above it slowly draws you into the story. Do not expect a horror classic of slashing blades blood and guts jump scares or any other type of that nonsense. It just comes it tells its story and leaves. Enjoy!
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