Plot: A married couple grieving the recent death of their little daughter are in Venice when they encounter two elderly sisters, one of whom is psychic and brings a warning from beyond.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Just Wow
Story: Don’t Look Now starts as we see the Baxter family Laura (Christie), John (Sutherland) and children Johnny (Salter) & Christine (Williams) around the everyday home life before tragedy strikes as Christine drowns in the pond.
Trying to move on with their lives they move back to work in Italy as John is a historical restorer. When the two have a dinner two strange sisters Heather (Mason) and Wendy (Matania) claim to be able to see Christine sitting between them. We see the couple dealing with the loss in their own way while Laura wants to communicate John doesn’t believe any of this supernatural side of the story.
When Laura talks John into at least trying to communicate with Christine through Heather and Wendy who predict that John’s life is in danger while in Venice and when their son gets hurt back in England Laura returns home leaving John alone in Venice but when he sees his wife with the sisters still in Venice he starts investigating himself but is he ready for the truth?
Don’t Look Now is a film that I had heard so much great about and usually when I go into films that have been hyped up I feel slightly disappointed. With this one I was on the edge of my seat from start until finish just wanting to know what would happen next, the story does make you think from start to finish which is very important and after the final act you are left going wait I need to see this again. This is how to make a horror film and it still stands the test of time nearly 50 years later.
Actor Review
Julie Christie: Laura is the wife and mother that is suffering after the loss of their daughter, she is in Venice with her husband trying her best to get over the tragedy. She meets to strange sisters that offer her a chance to communicate with her lost daughter in what becomes her believe anything they say. Julie is great in this role being the paranoid mother trying to find that final chance to say goodbye.
Donald Sutherland: John is a historical restorer that gets a strange feeling something is wrong with his daughter only to be too late to save her. Returning to work in Venice he tries to bury himself in his work but when Laura starts believing he is in danger he is having none of it until he is alone in Venice and things start happening. Donald is great in this role as you feel his frustration and depression about what has happened in this life.
Hilary Mason: Heather is the blind one of the two sisters who claims to be able to communicate with the dead, she also claims to be able to see the dead who send out warnings to their loved ones. Hilary is great in this role working with Clelia perfectly.
Clelia Matania: Wendy is the other sister that is the seeing eyes for the pair, she approaches Laura to offer her a chance to know Christine is still with them but also warning they are not entertainers. Clelia is great with her work with Hilary making a very creepy pairing.
Support Cast: Don’t Look Now has a supporting cast which mostly Italians that only speak slight English that never get subtitles.
Director Review: Nicolas Roeg – Nicolas gives us a horror with brilliant shots that give each and every scene an element of fear.
Horror: Don’t Look Now is filled with suspense filled horror that is in every single scene making us want to see what will happen.
Thriller: Don’t Look Now keeps us one edge through the whole film wonder where it will go.
Settings: Don’t Look Now uses the Venice settings wonderfully as we see the tight streets with the echo filled footsteps.
Special Effects: Don’t Look Now isn’t a film that turns to effects much but when it does it all seems to come off well.
Suggestion: Don’t Look Now is one I think all horror fans should watch at least once mostly due to the tension it creates through each scene. (Watch)
Best Part: Final act.
Worst Part: No subtitles for the Italian talking, so not sure if anything was important or not.
Believability: No
Chances of Tears: No
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Awards: Won a BAFTA for Cinematography as well as nominated for Best Film, Actress and Direction.
Oscar Chances: No
Budget: $1,5 Million
Runtime: 1 Hour 50 Minutes
Tagline: A psychic thriller.
Trivia: In the UK the film was released to theaters on double feature with The Wicker Man (1973).
Overall: Amazing suspenseful horror film.
Rating
