Time: 109 Minutes
Cast:
Michael Rogers as Barry Nyle
Eva Allan as Elena
Scott Hylands as Mercurio Arboria
Marilyn Norry as Rosemary Nyle
Rondel Reynoldson as Margo
Director: Panos Cosmatos

I was curious about Beyond the Black Rainbow ever since I learned that it was directed by Panos Cosmatos, who would later make the excellent Mandy. The visuals looked very intriguing, but I didn’t know much about the movie besides knowing it’s a sci-fi horror film. I really liked the movie and the whole experience, but wasn’t surprised at all that it was divisive and polarising for many people.

Despite all the crazy visuals, the plot and writing is what will alienate most viewers. The story is very simple, yet there’s not much of a narrative drive. It is very slowly paced and if you don’t find yourself immersed into its vibe, wavelength and overall atmosphere, you are going to find this movie to be a bit tedious. It’s a very ambiguous movie; there’s a lot here that’s not explained, and will require you unpacking yourself. I will admit that there’s a lot here that I didn’t grasp, but I was so on board with the overall experience that it didn’t frustrate me too much. That said, it does pick up its pace in the third act as it takes more of a turn into the slasher genre, but I thought that was a good payoff for what came before.

The cast is very limited, but the standout performance was Michael Rogers, who is captivating and unsettling as the main scientist and villain of the film.

This is Panos Cosmatos’s directorial debut, and from this one movie alone you can already tell that he has such a creative vision. It feels like it was made in the 70s or 80s and is stylistically reminiscent of Lynch, Kubrick and Cronenberg, while having its own distinct visual style. It is hypnotic to watch, with gorgeous cinematography, stunning lighting and colours, and bold and unnerving imagery. The eerie and uneasy atmosphere is increased further with the very oppressive set designs, the great sound design, and especially the John Carpenter-esque synth score from Sinoia Caves.

Beyond the Black Rainbow is a baffling, ambiguous, yet intriguing and mesmerising sci-fi horror, with gorgeous and unnerving visuals, an amazing soundtrack, and arresting atmosphere. It definitely fits into the category of films that aren’t for everyone, but might still be worth a look.