Review of Shadows and Fog (1991) by Cassie R — 09 Mar 2011

Brilliant homage to German Expressionism. Woody Allen first shows his love for the way German Expressionists, such as Murnau and Lang, by using inspired shots from some of the most beautiful films ever made, then he spoofs it by following a clueless character in a suspenseful story. Of course, Allen does his famous quick jokes that are easily missed if you're not paying attention. But what I found interesting is how he made religion such a strong presence throughout the film. Usually he makes a few remarks about religion, or sometimes he slams it within seconds, but in a murder mystery such as this, for some reason I wasn't expecting it. It seems like Allen believes that human beings have more than just a body, but also a soul. When Allen is cluelessly running around town trying to find what he's supposed to be doing about the murderer, he runs into the doctor's lab where he is looking at the murder victims. He says he is looking for what makes man so evil. I mean, if there is no soul, then evil has to be discoverable in the body, right? The funny thing is, he is not looking directly into the brain, but the heart and bones. Allen's character, Kleinman, is asked 3 times in the movie what his religious views are, and he can never give a full answer. The closest we get is that he wants to believe in God, but just can't. Irmy asks him if he prays, but he just says he doesn't because his people pray in a different language so he never understood them. He goes to a church to give them the $650 that Irmy made from selling her body and they erase him from the list, then when he comes back to take half the money they don't only put his name back on the list, they also circle it. It's clear that Allen is searching for some kind of religion here, but he hates to see organized religion. Irmy gives the money to the church to donate to the poor, but Kleinman says that they have to use it for the pillows and other things. He's right. All the money won't go to the poor, which is unfortunate that she's donating money for that cause and it won't all go towards it. Anyways, watching Shadows and Fog can only be fully appreciated if you enjoy German Expressionism, especially Fritz Lang's M. I felt like I was watching another version of M, except this time I was watching it from an incompetent man's point of view. I also loved the amount of people that make appearances in the film such as John Cusack as the man who can't get Irmy out of his mind after spending $700 to have sex with her, John Malkovich as a pretentious artist who has some good points and is in love with Irmy even though he's not the best person, Modonna (who is given the funniest shot with the darkness over her face and the light shining on her breasts), and Kurtwood Smith as the guy who starts the questioning of which side Kleinman is on, but Kleinman doesn't know his own plan let alone anyone else's.

**SPOILERS**.

The ending is quite funny and seems to be Allen laughing at his own idea of a pretentious film. So much of the film has been about religion and the first question brought up is whether or not people have souls, and in the end after they have captured the killer and put him in chains, but they turn away for a few seconds and he disappears. The doctor says when he is being killed that the killer just enjoys seeing his people in shock and fear. The killer in the film is just like film noir and German Expressionism, he is more of an idea. He is the idea of pure evil. That's why there is so much of this shadows and fog atmosphere. Kleinman is then offered to be the assistant to the magician of the circus, which he would love to do because he's an amateur magician, but he thinks he shouldn't leave his life behind. Really man? Can't leave the angry mob who accuses you of being a killer after you are sniffed? And your boss walks over you, and your fiance is a heartless bitch? Luckily, Kleinman realizes how awful everything is and decides to run away and join the circus. Quite a funny ending for a character we have followed. In the end, you just have to choose your own happiness over the way you think life should be lived.