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Beyond the Black Rainbow - Your top 5 likely influences

posted 12 years ago by mixedblood74
46 replies | jump to latest

I just saw the film and absolutely loved it. I'm gonna go ahead and throw it out there - this may just be the Eraserhead of our time. It definitely reminded me of certain cult films that, in my opinion, might have been influences. I'm listing mine below and would love to read what yours are...
1. Phantasm (the music)
2. Altered States (similar subject & Barry totally rocked the William Hurt look)
3. Blade Runner (leather suit/eye gouging similar to Roy Batty; music; style)
4. 2001: A Space Odyssey (same level of trippy-ness and visionary style)
5. Firestarter (young female heroine with psychic powers)

[–] Nesmond 12 years ago

I see Holy Mountain in there somewhere... or any other Jodorowsky film.

"Ah beer....the cause of, and solution to all of lifes little problems" - Homer Simpson

[–] darren-153-890810 12 years ago

Enter the void and even easy rider (trip scene)

[–] poopfock 10 years ago

I'm pretty sure Panos said that scene was based on Begotten (1990).

[–] dustypistol 9 years ago

Begotten... *shudder*

That movie was scary as s**t when I was 15. I have wanted to see it again since then, but... also kinda not wanted to.

Other movies that have scared the crap out of me (I don't scare easily, most horror films don't even make me jump):

Sleepaway Camp (the ending)
Megan is Missing
Eraserhead
Mulholland drive (just one part)

That's pretty much it...
and Begotten, of course. :p

[–] xanadu_dan 12 years ago

Just in general style, content, and technique, no particular order:
1. Blue Sunshine
2. Cosmos (Sagan PBS series)
3. Suspiria (and a bunch of other Argento)
4. Altered States (and a bunch of other Russell)
5. Manhunter

[–] bennyshambles78 11 years ago

Blue Sunshine, definitely.

[–] sam_joseph17 12 years ago

As far as visual influences go, I kept thinking of this music video, another Canadian product:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtqIlvg3wsw

A perfect fit with regards to time period.

[–] BRAINIAC-2 12 years ago

Definitely "2001" and "THX 1138".

[–] mkrzywonos 12 years ago

What about Akira? Didn't anyone think it a bit like less apocalyptic Akira?

[–] panjin79 12 years ago

1) 2001 of course
2) John Carpenter's apocalypse cycle (They Live, Prince of Darkness, In the Mouth of Madness)
3) Early Cronenberg like Videodrome and Scanners
4) William S Burroughs (Benway Pharmacy anyone?)
5) David Lynch......of course

[–] JeffersMorningToYou 12 years ago

Finally! I seem to be the only person amongst my friend pointing out the "Benway pharmacy" connection. You hit the nail on the head with influences as well, there are more, can't really pack his range of influences into a top 5.

I really do have love to give, I just don't know where to put it

[–] nicolawicz-1 12 years ago

Plenty of The Empire Strikes Back in some of the scenes with the nurse.

[–] mage121179 12 years ago

1. Christmas Vacation ("I don't know, Margo.")

[–] AngryChairr 12 years ago

1. Soundtrack owed a lot to both GOBLIN and Tangerine Dream. Jeremy Schmidt's song "Triangle" and the accompanying visuals with the cloud drifting down from the ceiling reminded me a lot of Michael Mann's The Keep, which was scored by Tangerine Dream and had some very similar otherworldly visuals.

2. Cronenberg. The plot seems to owe a bit to Cronenberg's passive-aggressive stab at new age psychobabble in The Brood, and the characters had a very cold, detached demeanor which was common of his '80s films. Scanners would be another strong reference point.

3. Kubrick. Whether intentional or not, the set design was reminiscent of 2001.

4. From Beyond. Humanity ascending to a higher form, and the trouble that, that can cause. Nyle even ends looking like Tillinghast's evolved form by the end of the film minus the third eye.

5. Begotten. The black and white visuals of Nyle's rebirth echo Begotten's hallucinatory visuals.

[–] panjin79 12 years ago

Oh...good call on "Begotten!"

[–] dawndeadromero 12 years ago

Definitely felt like 2001, Scanners, Videodrome, THX 1138, and Suspiria were all big influences in both style and feel for this film.

One way I've described this film is "throwing all of those films (mentioned above) in a blender and putting it on the slowest setting".

[–] Christopher_Smilax 12 years ago

1. 2001: A Space Odyssey (A slow paced, trip fest that's out of this world)
2. Cronenberg's dark, sci-fi groove (They're incredibly strange but always leave an impression on you)
3. Eraserhead (The surreal and disjointed, yet meaningful, narrative structure and style)
4. David Lynch (He has a knack for using themes and images that are almost incomprehensible unless you give them deep thought)
5. Altered States (The same general "mad scientist" idea)

^ Either that, or The Shining for it's geometrical design and "spiraling down into madness" theme

You mean Norman Bates Jr. is the baby daddy?

[–] mordred248 12 years ago

how did NOONE say "Portal"? baffling.

[–] dnesmith09 12 years ago

Top 5 likely influences:
1. Firestarter(female heroine,shadowy organization The Company)
2. 2001 (lighting, color for moods and Sentouranut? uniform)
3. Japanese anime + Synth Pop (AKIRA, Daft Punk)
4. Altered States (indoctrination ceremony and the rebirth of Dr.Nyles)
5. Cronenberg (Videodrome,Scanners)