Review of Black Swan (2010) by Paul R — 02 Feb 2014

I can never get over how dark Black Swan is - every time I see this film it gets better and better. This is true Horror, cleverly masquerading as a thriller... but this is expert Horror. Darren Aronofsky has created a fabulous, engaging and terrifying look into the life of a troubled ballerina who snaps up the lead role in Swan Lake.

Natalie Portman is fantastic here. The fact she trained to actually become a Prima ballerina for this role paints a clear picture of her dedication to this film. It really shows in her performance, but the quality doesn't end there - there are a whole host of perfect characters that we are introduced to.

Cassell as Thomas - the compelling dance director, Kunis as the rival dancer, but especially the brilliance of Barbara Hershey who plays Portman's overbearing and intimidating mother, she is truly unhinged.

I've always loved Aronofsky's style and this really showcases his talent.