Detailed review on quiet earth
source http://www.quietearth.us/articles/2010/12/06/Whistler-FF-2010-Review-of-Panos-Cosmatos-BEYOND-THE-BLACK-RAINBOW
In 1966, Dr. Arboria conducted an experiment. The goal was to create a new version of the human being, one with a conscious connection to spirituality. His test subject, Barry Nyle, emerged from the test, an odd, drug induced trip, a changed man but not necessarily in the way Dr. Arboria intended. The mad Barry inpregnates a woman and Elena, the child of the union is born with telepathic abilities. Locked in the belly of the Arboria Institute from birth, Elena suffers through regular sessions with her therapist, the re-invented but still crazy Dr. Nyle, all the while, looking for a way to escape. Keeping her in check is a mysterious machine that spawns into action each time Elena uses her powers. The machine debilitates and sedates her for a short period of time but its not really clear who or what controls it.
When Nyle pays a visit to the nearly dead, drug addicted Dr. Arboria, things take a turn for the worse. Nyle completely abandons his facade of good doctor for that of crazed and creepy stalker in search of Elena who has made her escape while Nyle is busy with Dr. Arboria.
I can't, with just one viewing, truly make sense of everything that director Panos Cosmatos presents in Beyond the Black Rainbow but the truth can't be denied: his feature film debut is one of the most exciting the sci-fi genre has seen in years. Borrowing heavily from the look and feel of 70s and 80s sci-fi and paying homage to everything from Cronenberg's The Brood to George Lucas' THX 1138, Cosmatos presents a trippy, awe inspiring vision that made my head spin. While some try to “re-invision” 80s classics, Cosmatos has chosen instead to make a film that feels authentic to the era, complete with a hypnotic synth score, timeless set design, heavily stylized visuals and a handful of the creepiest images caught on film this year, some of which seem lifted from a drug induced dream.
Cosmatos' vision is brought to life by Michael Rogers in the role of Nyle and new comer Eva Allan as Elena. Rogers gives himself fully to the role and breathes creepy life into Dr. Nyle while later transforming himself into a nearly unrecognizable deranged hunter. Allan has the difficult task of developing a character we care for while never uttering a single line of dialogue (outside of a garbled sentence she mentally forces onto Dr. Nyle). Allan emotes brilliantly – it's only a matter of time before we see what she's capable of with a speaking role.
It would be easy to brush away Cosmatos' film as a tribute to a time past and an all looks no substance sci-fi thriller but I love that Cosmatos challenges the audience by throwing out ideas, often with little explanation, while also playing with different stylistic approaches within the film. Beyond the Black Rainbow isn't all an Argento inspired palette of classic sci-fi. In a flashback sequence, Cosmatos opts for a blown out black and white approach which gives the sequence a twisted horror film feel almost as if it's too brutal to show and only appropriate to see in shadows. It's a gutsy move and one that works to great effect.
Beyond the Black Rainbow is a melting pot of thoughts and visuals, a mix of sci-fi and horror; a film that is guaranteed to be a cult classic, a hit with the midnight crowds and a must see for anyone interested in a film experience. With his debut, Cosmatos shows great promise as a visionary director, one who is ripe to breathe some new life into the sci-fi genre.