Review: Brimstone
Blu-ray & DVD: Brimstone (2016)
Brimstone is a dark western tale which tells the story of Liz (Dakota Fanning); a mute woman who’s constant battle with all life throws at her is documented here from her early years as a scared and abused child, through to her adult life where the shadows of her past still engulf her.
The narrative of Brimstone is unrelating, its 150 minutes filled with physical and mental torture, all the while eking out each drop of emotion as the scenes play out at a languid pace, revelling in the atrocities and mental anguish as peoples lives are torn apart. The slow pace and long running time may be off putting to many, and indeed the disparity between current review scores online seems to show a split between either loving it or hating it, but put me in the camp of the former. If you want a western with a lighter tone, then go seek out an old John Wayne movie.
Written and directed by Martin Koolhoven, the stark and unforgiving landscapes are the perfect accompaniment to the seared and tortured souls of the main characters. The time given to flesh out the characters and their lives serves to create more empathy for them, and of course more shock and despair when events don’t go as you hoped they would.
Brimstone is another of those movies whereby the less you know going into it, the more you will be affected as the narrative unfurls. Suffice it to say, be prepared for a long, brutal and emotional ride. This is definitely not a movie to watch just before going to bed!
All of the performances are fantastic, though if I were to pick out anyone it would be that Guy Pearce as ‘The Reverend’ does come across at times as being like a cross between a pantomime villain and Jason Vorhees. Actually, THAT would be an adult panto to watch!
If you want to immerse yourself in a dark, unrelating and lengthy tale that will leave you feeling physically and mentally grubby as the end credits roll, then Brimstone comes highly recommended.
Brimstone is released on 19th February 2018 and you can buy it by clicking HERE. ALL money raised by purchasing from Amazon via our website is given back to our listeners and followers in upcoming competition prizes. The more people buy, the bigger our prizes.
Review by Dave (host of 60 Minutes With) from a disc kindly supplied by Thunderbird Releasing.
