Jack be nimble film12/8/2023 The movie doesn't manage any atmosphere or scares and thus fails as horror, gothic or otherwise. "Jack Be Nimble" is a strange and unpleasant movie, the result of an unsuccessful attempt to mix a whimsical gothic horror story with down-and-dirty social realism. If you have an interest in the more sombre, conceptual side of the horror genre, this is an underrated modern classic, and comes highly recommended. These are, however, minor quibbles, which didn't detract in the slightest from my enjoyment. There were also some heavy-handed edits, and the sound design wasn't as accomplished as the visual aspects of the movie. As I mentioned in passing, the script has its clunky moments and not all the acting matches the quality of the standout roles. This is a film about people whose lives have spiralled out of control and into the dark side, and while the paranormal elements are ever-present they're never the meat of the meal. and thankfully they're the kind of surprised which make you think, not the kind which make you jump! There are very few FX beyond straight-up film techniques and a little fake blood, and that too is to the film's credit. There are more surprises in this film than in the last dozen Hollywood horrors I watched. Mainly, though, it's the ideas which make this shine. Mention must also be made of the blunt, persuasive presence of Bruno Lawrence, bringing to life a character who could easily have been badly mishandled. Some of the performances might perhaps have been a little more fluid but Alexis Arquette (as the titular Jack) and especially Sarah Smuts-Kennedy as Dora are exceptionally honest in their portrayals of a damaged brother and sister. The dialogue is unpretty (sometimes even crude), but direct and often powerful - in many ways watching this was like discovering an unknown early Cronenberg flick, but in place of Cronenberg's cool intellectualism Garth Maxwell has crafted a highly emotional film which isn't afraid to take its viewers into uncomfortable territory. The characters are sharply defined and individual, yet at the same time convincingly complex. There is violence and death, disturbing rather than gory, and an insidious tension which builds slowly and isn't allowed to dissipate until the very end. The plot is straightforward but intelligently thought through and far from simple, resting on the characters and the tragic events in which they're embroiled. The film looks great, using the natural beauty of NZ alongside impressive cityscapes, but also showing us the very ordinary and (of course) the dark and ugly side of both the rural and urban environments. It has everything a quality horror movie needs, including the elements which big-budget and "typical American" horror all too often lack. This low-budget horror film from New Zealand is, for me, a textbook example of why I love the genre. A weird little gem of a film - not for everyone, but definitely worth catching at least once. There is little violence, but that which is shown is brutal and merciless, especially the shocker ending. The storyline may be somewhat thin, but the emotions of the characters are plenty strong enough to fill in the gaps. Sarah Smuts-Kennedy is equally awesome as the conflicted Dora. Alexis Arquette is frightening and sympathetic, turning in an incredibly harrowing performance as the scarred Jack and doing a great accent to boot. The performances are awesome, especially by the two leads. This is both a horror movie, a grim fairy tale and a tense emotional drama, sometimes difficult to watch but always just intense enough to keep you from looking away. When Jack is indeed kidnapped by the freaky foursome, it is up to Dora to find him and save him. To make matters worse, the four creepy sisters show up, determined to find Jack and take their revenge upon him. The increasingly emotionally distraught Dora tries desperately to hold onto her life and those she loves. Jack is seriously emotionally disturbed, lashing out at everyone that his sister loves and violently confronting their natural parents once the two are able to track them down. Dora, with the help of her abilities, is able to find Jack and bring him back with her. With the help of a weird, shop-class constructed hypnosis machine, Jack kills his adopted parents and flees the farm. Jack, beaten and tormented every day, grows up hostile and explosive. Dora, an introvert with psychic abilities, leads a mostly normal life, though it's a mostly friendless one. Dora is taken in by a caring well-to-do couple while Jack is sent to live with a country family, consisting of a cruel mother, an abusive father and their four creepy daughters. Abandoned by their drunken and disturbed mother at a very young age, Jack and Dora are soon adopted by different families.
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