Review of Thinner (1996) by Filipeneto — 31 Jan 2021

Movies about gypsy curses are always interesting because it is something that is not often addressed by horror cinema. I, at least, have this perception. In this case, the film has the advantage of being based on yet another story created by Stephen King's seething mind.

The story is based on Billy. He is an obese lawyer who has tried to lose weight with successive diets, without success due to an absolute lack of willpower to carry them out. However, one night, while driving distractedly, he runs over an old gypsy woman, killing her. The gypsies go to court, expecting him to be convicted in some way, but the judge takes the case as an accident and Billy leaves unpunished. In order to prevent that, and at least to have some justice, the old gypsy, father of the dead woman and head of the community, goes to Billy and puts a terrible curse on him: losing weight until death.

The film has good premises and a promising story, but it also has several problems: for a start, black humor is not for everyone. I like it, but I understand if someone tells me they don't like it. Another problem (for me, it was not a problem) is that the film makes us feel guilty for sympathizing with a man who ran over a person and got away with it. In fact, Billy is friendly and pleasant, and the gypsies are portrayed in such a dark way that it is impossible to sympathize with them or with what they say and think.

Robert John Burke is very good in the main role and the way he embodies the enormous physical and mental transformation of the character is a remarkable job. Joe Mantegna, too, as a violent but loyal mobster, is doing very well. But even better than him is a great Daniel von Bargen, a lesser known actor, but who was excellent in the role he was given. Kari Wuhrer and Lucinda Jenney also contribute, in minor characters.

Technically, the film is quite average. Cinematography does not stand out particularly, and the same could be said for the soundtrack, costumes and sets. What is really to be congratulated are the visual and special effects, for the way they managed to transform an extremely obese person into a real corpse. We also cannot forget the good work of the makeup artists, essential for the misshapen appearance of other characters in this film, also cursed by the gypsies.