Audition

this is great psychological horror. a film that pushes the limits on gore (the body horror is very surrealistic), while also having something to say. the macabre feels essential, heightened by the soften music and stellar writing throughout the film. like Happiness or mysterious skin. this is an amazing film, while not as disturbing as I would have thought, it was very refreshing especially for its time. the storyline is brilliantly written, with complex and fascinating characters, top with unpredictable circumstances and backstories. it has a very sad premise, that unfolds well and is jaw dropping until the very end. the kill and dismemberment scenes are unique and intense. the atmosphere shifts of the film is amazing too, the way it felt like you're watching a slow burn romantic comedy at first, as it slowly turns into a spine-chilling psychological, visceral vignette that left you disturbed. i love it. it offered layers of subtext and study on how to create a convincing horror story and realistic characters. i love how this is also a feminist film, the way it conveys trauma in womanhood, it's a feminist critique of men who treat women as replaceable, shallow objects, with a brutal revenge acting from the girl as a violent reclamation of power. it highlights the dangers of men projecting their ideal, submissive, and silent fantasies onto women, who then defy those expectations in shocking ways. overall, this is a horror masterpiece that is an absolute must see. i love the aesthetic and the surreal atmosphere, combine with dreadful sequences that made me disturbed in a good way. it's incredible.