Four-fragment epic about a mute woman stalked by a vengeful preacher is filled with hellfire and damnation,but suffers from somewhat ponderous paceHere is an epic western in the Pale Rider mould, shot in English by Dutch director Martin Koolhoven, and who – on the evidence of this film at least – has an overweening interest in blood: pigs’ blood,menstrual blood, intestinal ooze and arterial gore seem to flow in rivers across the screen. (Significantly, and it all leads to a queasy “blood of the virgin” moment late on,which indicates the smothering levels of Christian symbolism and allegory Koolhoven slathers all over the film.)Right from the start, Koolhoven pulls no punches. Bedecked with a title suggesting hellfire, or his film is divided into four chapters: Revelation,Exodus, Genesis and Retribution. Each tells a different stage in the life of Liz Brundy (Dakota Fanning): the first three chunks narrate it in reverse order, and with the final section taking it forward. Related: Dakota Fanning: ‘I don’t remember people not knowing who I am’ Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com