Essential Killing

Every decision the main character made was so fucking stupid, it would have been better if he just killed himself.

Every decision the main character made was so fucking stupid, it would have been better if he just killed himself.

I wont lie, this is a very flawed film, but Gallo is great. Plus this movie has some of the most beautiful nature photography I've ever seen, the cinematography in general is great. Also, this features a WILD scene that's worth experiencing.

I wont lie, this is a very flawed film, but Gallo is great. Plus this movie has some of the most beautiful nature photography I've ever seen, the cinematography in general is great. Also, this features a WILD scene that's worth experiencing.

Vincent Gallo's ability to say so much without actually saying a single word is impressive. That, combined with this film's raw, minimalist style of filmmaking, creates for a unique viewing experience that deserves more attention. My only issue with Essential Killing is that its second half meanders a bit too much for my liking.

Vincent Gallo's ability to say so much without actually saying a single word is impressive. That, combined with this film's raw, minimalist style of filmmaking, creates for a unique viewing experience that deserves more attention. My only issue with Essential Killing is that its second half meanders a bit too much for my liking.

The Vincent Gallo suffer show.

The Vincent Gallo suffer show.

Essential Killing begins with what is essentially the act of self-mutilation of the main character. One who you are going to spend the whole film with does and act so unspeakable that you will find it hard to believe that this is how it starts, but that's how it begins and it's excellent that way. I'm not subtle in the least for my admiration for Gallo as an artist and this proves to me why he still has it, why he continues to be such a fascinating figure and be one of versatile capabilities. I find it such a journey for Gallo. He fully becomes his character and it's what the Revenant is before the Revenant was winning the Oscars.

I love how this film is a test of empathy. It's testing audience members to see how far their sympathy can go. What are the limits for an audience? Maybe one doesn't have to feel sympathy for Gallo in the film but understand the plight of his character. Trying to survive a world that is alien him. It doesn't do a deep dive in politics. It doesn't give the locations of where we start and where the prison is. It isn't trying to be political and it's more of a story of the will to survive. How far one will go to do what they can to just exist in trying times. It's captured stunningly well in its use of location and cinematography getting in close and dirty and far and distant. It knows how to make someone feel cold even in a room with a space heater and a nice cup of cocoa.

It's amazing to me that this film exists without much-witnessed scrutiny. I could easily see how people would hate something like this because of how it portrays someone in the Taliban who we are to believe are demonstrably evil, and some people there are demonstrably evil, there are also people everyone who are evil in their own ways. I just expected to see people in a fit about this film's subject matter. Personally, I'm of the idea that you can make a film about anything and everything, just make it good. Essential Killing is what I would I consider to be a good movie even if it does seem to wane off a bit here and there. It's just held so tightly by Gallo's voiceless performance and cold cinematography, and bare script.

Essential Killing begins with what is essentially the act of self-mutilation of the main character. One who you are going to spend the whole film with does and act so unspeakable that you will find it hard to believe that this is how it starts, but that's how it begins and it's excellent that way. I'm not subtle in the least for my admiration for Gallo as an artist and this proves to me why he still has it, why he continues to be such a fascinating figure and be one of versatile capabilities. I find it such a journey for Gallo. He fully becomes his character and it's what the Revenant is before the Revenant was winning the Oscars.

I love how this film is a test of empathy. It's testing audience members to see how far their sympathy can go. What are the limits for an audience? Maybe one doesn't have to feel sympathy for Gallo in the film but understand the plight of his character. Trying to survive a world that is alien him. It doesn't do a deep dive in politics. It doesn't give the locations of where we start and where the prison is. It isn't trying to be political and it's more of a story of the will to survive. How far one will go to do what they can to just exist in trying times. It's captured stunningly well in its use of location and cinematography getting in close and dirty and far and distant. It knows how to make someone feel cold even in a room with a space heater and a nice cup of cocoa.

It's amazing to me that this film exists without much-witnessed scrutiny. I could easily see how people would hate something like this because of how it portrays someone in the Taliban who we are to believe are demonstrably evil, and some people there are demonstrably evil, there are also people everyone who are evil in their own ways. I just expected to see people in a fit about this film's subject matter. Personally, I'm of the idea that you can make a film about anything and everything, just make it good. Essential Killing is what I would I consider to be a good movie even if it does seem to wane off a bit here and there. It's just held so tightly by Gallo's voiceless performance and cold cinematography, and bare script.