Review of The Strange Color of Your Body's Tears (2014) by Dillinger P — 28 Oct 2014

Ever witnessed a film that seems more like a nightmare? The Strange Colour is pretty much that film. Travelling business man Dan returns home one evening, to his very vintage and lush apartment, to find his girlfriend missing however is door is locked from the inside.

As he begins to investigate with a detective and his surrounding neighbours, they begin to unfold... well thats it, they begin to unfold something, what it is im not quite sure. Visually this film is stunning, its uses a very theatrical style of lighting and uses colours in a very lush and powerful way.

Everything from set to costume is immense and the grade on this film is extremely pretty. The film is genuinly unsettling also, its paced so obscurely and the editing is so choppy with a huge use of macro shots or sweeping shots that it is close to impossible to get your bearings.

It's honestly like your worst nightmare. The acting, for what there is of it, this film is definately more a visual feast, is to a degree completely fine. Nobody sticks out as there is so much going on and no one character is fleshed out, however nobody does a horrendous job.

Musically this film has a retro feel to it, harking back to itallian horror mixed with psychidelic indie flicks of the 70's and 80's. However where this film ultimatley stumbles is in 2 very important sections, actual substance and intrigue.

See the film begins very well, grabbing you and flinging you down the well of intrigue and mystery only to buckle under the weight of its complete nonsensical plot close to just over half way in. The 3rd act is close to impossible to decipher.

By the end, not are you a little bit overwhelmed but completely lost, I agree with the film thats exactly where it wants you, but with little character arcing and very little story to go on, this finishes more like a music video rather than a narrative.

The 2nd most crippling issue is repetition, this film will constantly fling the same techniques or scenes and shots at you, over and over and over and over again, changing it up slightly but ultimately leaving you uninspired by what it may be trying to achieve.

Add to the mix very little sense of finality and what your left with is an extremely gorgeous piece of nonsensical cinema, that is crammed full with atmosphere and unsetteling vibes but very little else.

If only this film had a bit more to offer by the 3rd act, this film would have scored dramatically higher.