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Such a weird experience. Honestly, I can’t even fully tell if I seriously like this or not, but when I think about what it actually felt like to watch, it was a really great and unique experience. This was my first **Lars von Trier** film, and people were recommending literally anything except this as a starting point, so naturally I chose this one instead :D Hard to describe overall, but it’s definitely an interesting and unexpected take on a serial killer story. Might have to give it a rewatch.

It took me a long time to finally watch this. I first started it probably a couple of years ago, but technical issues got in the way and I never went back to it. I’m also the kind of person who watches films based on what feels right in the moment rather than just because something is highly acclaimed, which is another reason it took me this long. I already know I’m going to spend a lot of time reading theories and watching explanation videos afterward, but this honestly feels like the clearest example of David Lynch perfectly balancing experimental artistry with a more mainstream style that manages to pull almost anyone in. It’s an incredibly thrilling, genuinely terrifying, dreamlike mystery that’s definitely going to stay in my head for a long time. Incredible movie, but impossible for me to rate with stars :( edit: I changed my mind, this is an easy five stars.

At first I thought I wouldn’t like this, but it actually turned out to be pretty good. I ended up watching it because of the Criterion Haneke trilogy. Michael Haneke really is a master at creating atmosphere. The completely static shots, no camera movement at all, combined with long stretches of silence and a cold, greyish color palette work perfectly together. The plot is also intriguing and has somewhat aesthetic feel to it. That said, the experience might have suffered a bit because I watched it in the evening and the extreme slowness felt heavier because of that.

I’m honestly so mad at myself for not buying the Criterion release of this yesterday when I literally had it in my hands. I didn’t know the film at all, but over the course of the day my interest grew so much that I ended up watching it that same night. Visually, it’s beautiful, with a very fitting 70s color palette. It feels dreamlike, unsettling, and even claustrophobic. It’s also the kind of film you can interpret in many different ways. One way to see it is that Pinky represents a younger version of Millie, in a world where Millie and Pinky isn't used to living in the "city". Both versions of Millie come from Texas, and especially the older Millie throws dinner parties and leans into this domestic role as a way of trying to adapt to a world that feels unfamiliar to her. Her “outsider” nature shows in small moments, like how coworkers and even neighbors barely acknowledge her and mostly look down on her. In a way, Pinky (the younger version) is the only one who feels truly real. An incredible film no matter how you choose to interpret it. I still can’t decide whether it’s a 4.5 or 5 stars.