Review of Santa Sangre (1989) by John Joseph Y — 16 Jun 2007

Alejandro Jodorowsky is certainly one of the most unique directors I have ever come across. His films are visually hypnotic, surreal, erotic and disturbing. He has apparent preoccupations with topics such as religion, castration, sexuality and violence.

Combine these interests with his clearly drug induced style of storytelling and you get his eclectic and often shocking filmography. Despite his films all being drastically different from each other, they still manage to retain his distinct filmic signature.

It is easy to dismiss Jodorowsky as a madman whose films are nothing more than nonsense, but what would there be to gain in doing that? Personally, I prefer to let myself be mesmerized by his work; I do not seek understanding, I only welcome it when it comes.