Review of Requiem for a Dream (2000) by Erik B — 30 Nov 2013

Requiem for a Dream is plummeting at 100mph straight into hell and it's not interested in letting you work your way back up. To say this film lacks uplift is an understatement. Audiences craving some kind of positive message are going to very upset with this.

Not upset in the sense of wanting something more, but genuinely upset by the content of this film. We become very attached to these characters and the descent into madness, addiction and desperation is brutal, and often unsettling.

However, this is not an un-watchable film by any means. It's a kaleidoscopic fever dream of a picture, one that demands your undivided attention at all moments. You'll have a very hard time looking away from the screen, so this demand seems quite fair.