Pfft. Long, boring, and dated.
(note of caution - I wrote this before I even wrote reviews, with less appreciation for a lot of things than I have now. I've every intention of seeing this again, though I do admit, this movie was an excruciatingly dull experience the first time through, and no matter how meticulously assembled, I very much doubt it'll ever again have any notable fraction of the effectiveness it had in an age where Satanism was new and almost fasionable instead of the sideshow it is today. I only mention this because it was re-posted recently - not by me! - and the resulting knee-jerk couldn't-you-people-be-bothered-to-look-at-who-was-posting-this shitstorm that arose from it is something I'd just as soon not be bothered to combat. So, take it with a grain of salt; a REAL review is forthcoming.)
All gather 'round as Brian bitches about another film he was told was a classic.
I'd heard somewhere that time hasn't been very kind to this movie, but I'd forgotten about it until after I saw it, after all these years, the other night. For starters, this is a forty-five minute movie. That's all the movie needs. Instead, it's three times that length. For God's sake, if you're going to make a long movie, fill it with stuff.
The acting was good by everyone throughout (and for those who thought this movie wouldn't be Satanic enough, Anton LeVay shows up, but don't blink). Too bad there was so little to work with. I also liked the dreamy moments, which were quite well-done.
I was about the say that the problem is that this movie has become so well-known that any surprises it ever held have already become known to a modern audience. However, even going into this movie with an empty cinematic palate, you'd be hard-pressed to ignore how unsurprising it is. The movie that's most obviously compared to it is The Devil's Advocate - and now I see why. Both movies give you a central premise - everybody in the story knows what's going on, and the viewer knows what's going on...but the lead character doesn't know what's going on. It was pretty fun in TDA - after all, who's more better suited to play somebody more clueless than anybody around him than Keanu Reeves? But when that's played completely straight like it is here, especially for an outrageous 136 minutes, it's so, so numbingly dull.
This wasn't an awful movie - in fact, those last ten minutes almost make it all worthwhile, just because it's so fun and happy and upbeat. (well, maybe not for all viewers, but that lady put some genuine joy into her "Hail Satan!", and I was delighted at her enthusiasm) But overall... Polanski's done a far better horror flick than this, a little piece called Macbeth. (I've yet to see Fearless Vampire Killers)