My quick rating - 7.2/10. TIme to check out a flick that came out in my birth year that I only recall hearing something about a racy scene in it many years ago. Starring a much younger version of Donald Sutherland and the acclaimed Julie Christie as Laura and John Baxter, grieved by a terrible loss, travel to Venice, where John is in charge of the restoration of a church, and meet two mysterious sisters, one of whom gives them a message sent from the afterlife. Pretty sure I just watched the aforementioned scene and for 50 years ago, I guess that would be quite risque. Director Nicolas Roeg is able to film Venice in such a way that looks much darker and a creepy gothic-looking city as opposed to the usual city on the water we tend to see. That was a haunting and visually striking film that combines psychological horror with a profound exploration of grief. The film opens with a heart-wrenching scene depicting the accidental drowning of the Baxters' daughter, a moment that casts a long shadow over the entire story. As John and Laura attempt to move forward, they encounter two mysterious sisters in Venice, one of whom claims to be a psychic and delivers a message from their deceased child. This revelation plunges the couple into a web of supernatural occurrences and psychological turmoil. Sutherland and Christie deliver powerful performances as John and Laura. Sutherland, in particular, captures the stoic yet vulnerable nature of a man trying to mask his pain with rationality. Christie's portrayal of Laura is equally compelling, depicting a woman who is more open to the possibility of the supernatural as a means of coping with her grief. Venice, often depicted as a romantic and picturesque city, is transformed by Roeg into a place of foreboding and unease. The city's labyrinthine streets and decaying architecture enhance the film's gothic atmosphere, making it a character in its own right. Roeg's use of disorienting camera angles, fragmented editing, and vivid color motifs—especially the recurring use of red—contribute to the film's pervasive sense of dread. The much-talked-about love scene between Sutherland and Christie remains a point of discussion even decades later. For its time, it was considered quite risqué and is still notable for its raw, intimate portrayal of a couple seeking solace in each other amid their grief. Far from gratuitous, the scene adds depth to their relationship and underscores their desperate attempt to reconnect emotionally and physically. This didn't feel like your conventional horror film. It is a deeply atmospheric and psychological exploration of loss, memory, and the supernatural. The film's climax, a shocking and ambiguous twist, leaves viewers with lingering questions and a sense of unease that few films manage to achieve. Roeg's masterful direction and the film's haunting visuals make it a standout in the horror genre and a must-watch for fans of classic cinema. Couple the tale that he crafted visually with the performance that Donald Sutherland gives us to command the screen and you get a chilling and thought-provoking film that stands the test of time. If you're in the mood for a film that blends psychological depth with gothic horror, Don't Look Now is well worth your time.
There are a few more streamers than I expected for you to check this one out on.
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