philosoraptor42

Beyond The Black Rainbow (2010)

This is an odd film. Right from the start I was rather frustrated by what appeared to be the most boring advertisement possible for some kind of New Age facility. Using a mixture of treatments the presenter claims to be able to produce perfect happiness and contentment.

Once this section finishes, however, we are instantly ambushed by the movies two greatest strengths: some incredible visual flair and a kick-ass electronic soundtrack. We seem to travel inside the pupil of an eye while a haunting keyboard insists that we should expect something special.

What we actually find is a film filled with vibrant primary colours, some impressive sets and haunting Carpenter-esque music, but filled with absolutely no characters with any real personality. Our main characters are an emotionless authority figure and the voiceless girl with psychic powers he is holding in a cell. It is at least made clear that the authority figure is psychopathic and sadistic, but outside of that, there isn't much to him. Which is a pity, because I get the impression that the actor put a lot of effort into playing this one-note character and could have provided an excellent performance in a better written film with a proper story.

Half way through there's a clear suggestion that his cold emotionlessness might be a result of a mistake in the treatments offered by this mysterious facility. It seems like his sadism might be fuelled by contempt for the facility which made him this way and jealousy of the girl who has gained genuine psychic powers from that same process.

Sadly I think I was reading way too much into this film. It does not explain much, but it does eventually reveal that the baddie actually has some kind of God complex, with the film turning, Sunshine-style, into a bland slasher flick at the last minute.