Review of From the Life of the Marionettes (1980) by Andrew B — 20 Apr 2011

Ingmar Bergman's psychological examination of murder is subversively terrifying, but only with the more you think about it. Its nonlinear structure is a fresh and unique touch (it feels like Tarantino took notes from this for "Pulp Fiction"), and though it's not like his usual fare, this film is very good and compelling in its own right.

In some ways it's very unBergman, but there are enough hints there to where you can tell it's still him pulling the strings. This film skips right over the "whodunnit" into the idea of "whydunnit", a mystery which we explore the entire film and only partially understand by the ending - which, though simple in nature is simultaneously satisfying and baffling.