MovieChat Forums > Picnic at Hanging Rock (1979) Discussion > Other eerie, haunting, patient, atmosphe...

Other eerie, haunting, patient, atmospheric films like this one?

posted 18 years ago by StrawDogBreeder
183 replies | jump to latest

The music, landscapes, and pacing of this film all contribute to its itching mystery at least as much as the plot itself. There's also something about the film (stock) itself that acts as a better medium for this kind of meditative piece. It's a work of art made on a higher quality canvas. Knowhattamean? In descibing its qualities and effects, though, I have to fight a tendency of drifting into abstract, snobbish descriptions. What are some other films that have some of these haunting, patient(?) qualities?

A few I have seen:

1. Solaris (Tarkovsky, not Soderbergh)
2. Stalker (also Tarkovsky)
3. (At least the first half of) The Black Stallion
4. Ring of Bright Water
5. Dead Man (sort of)

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] hobbes007450 15 years ago

INLAND EMPIRE

It's actually written like that, but even if it weren't IT WOULD STILL BE IN CAPITALS BECAUSE IT IS THE GREATEST FILM EVER MADE. (Opinion, presented as fact. You'll live).

[–] ripleyjames 15 years ago

A couple that come to mind that haven't been mentioned are Dragonwyck and Val Lewton's The Curse of the Cat Woman. The White Ribbon, as mentioned, is the most recent one that immediately comes to my mind. Malick's use of sound/music is very similar to how it is utilized in Picnic although I don't think his movies are really all that eerie.

[–] ki11er7 15 years ago

The Spirit Of The Beehive.

[–] Zoomorph 15 years ago

Closest film I've seen to this style would be Herzog's Nosferatu. Actually I prefer that film because the soundtrack is a lot better than Picnic.

~ Observe, and act with clarity. ~

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] Disc-Flipper 14 years ago

"Encounter with the Unknown" - a trilogy of horror tales hosted by Rod Serling - one of the stories deals with a boy's dog falling down a deep hole in a farmer's field - does it lead to Hell? There are otherworldly sounds coming from there. The boy's father is lowered down on a rope to rescue the pet and comes up insane from what he encountered down there.

[–] hawk-58 13 years ago

OMG, Disc-Flipper, are you the only other person in the world who has seen this movie? LOL It is a particular favorite of mine, as the "witch" in the opening scene, first episode of the trilogy, is an old, old friend from college days!

As I recall, it was an indie production made in Louisiana by the drama department at LSU with a teensy budget. I think for the money involved they did a really great job. I stumbled across it in a video store in the 80's and it took years to recall the title.

The middle episode, the one you mention, I still find VERY frightening; it is based on a well-known true story. I finally found a VHS copy of this movie a couple of years ago and I would say the first two episodes hold up pretty well, the last one tending to meander (although the Resurrection Mary story takes place in my former neck of the woods and is therefore worth watching for me). It is the middle story that is the creepiest and closest to the atmosphere of Picnic at Hanging Rock, same theme involving the mysteries of nature, sudden unexplained disappearances, etc.

[–] OpaqueOne 14 years ago

I believe it was mentioned, but try The Other (1972) Directed by Robert Mulligan. It simmers to a slow boil. Though the story takes places mostly in the daytime, a sense of ominous dread permeates the innocent, colorful atmosphere. Similar criticisms that are leved at PaHR are also used to berate The Other (slow, not horror, boring, etc) but it is very patient, textured filmmaking.

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] RobinMM 14 years ago

So many other good ones named, but I haven't seen "Onegin" on the list. It's similarly slow-moving, and the emotions build very very slowly as the plot unfolds. Long sections with little or no dialog, but interesting to watch nonetheless.

[–] Mastadge 14 years ago

A recent surprise was Lake Mungo. Redolent of Picnic at Hanging Rock in all the right ways.