Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Polish film "DEMON" by Marcin Wrona the Maestro of Dementia

Dir/producer/screenwriter Marcin Wrona (b. Poland 1973) committed suicide prior to the release of "DEMON," a deeply disturbing portrait of mental illness or a demonic possession depending on your perspective.   The movie is an artsy horror film that is bizarre and eerily effective.  Subtitled in English, the film is mostly in Polish with some English & Yiddish interspersed.  It's presumptive to categorize the genre of Wrona's corrosive film.  It's definitely an ominous film meant to frighten & disturb.  There are clever characterizations on manipulation, domination, devotion & disbelief.  A wedding is at the core of the film between a handsome couple who corresponded online & quickly morphed into love.  The groom, Peter (Israeli actor Itay Tirab) travels from England to Poland to marry & live with his fiancee, Zaneta (Polish actress Agnieski Zulewska.)  The couple will reside in an old farm house which  belonged to her grandparents.  The town is shrouded in mist and torrential rainfalls.  While doing some digging on the property (literally) skeletal bones are uncovered by Peter.  He decides it's best not to reveal the macabre finding til after the wedding.  Weird things begin soon after the discovery. The wedding is an all night party of drinking, debauchery & demonic possession (or dementia) of the groom.  The sprawling wedding scenes are remarkable.  The father of the groom is a spin dr. regarding  his son-in-law's erratic behavior, choosing epilepsy while a medical dr. recommends hospitalization & the wife wants an exorcism from the priest who only wants to scram before all Hell lets loose. The film artfully juxtaposes weddings/funerals, building/destruction & past/present.  I was totally transfixed as the events occur amidst a tempest.  It's intriguing filmmaking at its best.  The movie may only harbor a narrow audience.  I'm in that niche and invite others to join this banquet of bewitching movie making.

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