The Passion of Darkly Noon
No Faith Without Blood
After the death of his strict, religious parents, forlorn young Darkly gets lost in the woods. A truck driver, Jude, rescues the exhausted man, who has only a bible for comfort. He brings him to the house of Callie and Clay, two lovers who live in the forest. While Clay is away in the forest, beautiful Callie nurses Darkly back to health, and he develops an obsession with her that is totally contrary to his upbringing - a sexual obsession. When Clay returns home and Darkly sees the two lovers kiss, it is too much for him. Every night he hears them making love. Darkly's descent into madness has begun, leading to a heart-stopping conclusion.
Member Reviews
Welcome To An Enchanted Forest Of The Bizarre And Unusual - c4th
The Passion of Darkly Noon is a psychological thriller – heavy on the psychological. Philip Ridley (Writer and Director) delivers a dark and violent erotic tale of lust and compassion delivered in a bizarre style that many viewers will find delightfully disturbing.
When we first meet Darkly Noon, he is wondering alone in a forest. The forest is the first of many fairy tale elements that surface in the story taking place in a dreamlike atmosphere. Despite the ubiquitous explanation for his circumstance, we surmise he is the survivor of some traumatic event in which his strict religious and overbearing parents perished. We are quickly aware of social backwardness from a man who observes surroundings with the maturity of a child. The pacing is slow as we gather this background but suspense builds after Darkly meets a witchlike recluse. A good witch, bad witch duo develops in which we’re not sure which witch is which. At this point, the psychological nature of the film escalates. Darkly begins exhibiting behaviours of schizophrenic psychosis, something the director drives home with editing as chaotic and disjointed as Darkly’s thoughts. The second half of the movie is extremely intense and disturbing as he prepares to embark on a mission to eliminate perceived sin and evil.
Should you accept an invitation into Ridley's strange enchanted forest invaded by a disturbed young man and shaken by the violence that erupts within him? Only a magic wand could predict. This movie clearly appeals to a limited audience. The initial slow pacing requires some patience. More significantly, its offbeat characters, surreal mood and bizarre elements of symbolism will turn off many viewers but at the same time delight many others. If you do not appreciate psychological horror or surreal atmosphere then I would say definitely stay away. If you enjoy pieces that venture into the arena of the bizarre or unusual you may enjoy the “shoe".Hindsight Error - BigGirlBlue2
I saw this movie when it was first released and have always wanted to see it again because of Viggo Mortensen and Ashley Judd. For the life of me I can't remember it being so bad. The editing was choppy (although there are some beautifully framed shots) and the music is irritating. We had a hard time sitting through this one. I'm still shocked I thought it was so good the first time. My hindsight is broken. Acting wise there are moments when you can see why these actors are considered at the top of the acting food chain but it really isn't worth putting yourself through the pain.Innovative and original - Porkchop
The title "Passion of Darkly Noon" defines this movie: weird.
Period.
Darkly Noon is the name of the character, who is obviously either
off his medication or seems to be going through several trauma in
his life.
The movie, to be sure, is acceptably filmed, interesting and
encouragingly innovative and original, and will appeal to the
younger age bracket mainly.
Much if not the entirety, of this picture, is Salvador Dali-esque,
such are the surreal elements shown, such as the gigantic circus
prop ( a shoe ) floating down the river, the elephant, or even, the
bitter widow living in a Winnibago in the middle of the "Magic
Forest", while her son lives with a "witch" - the character played
by Ashley Judd, who is called such a name mainly from the libido she
naturally either unknowingly or calculatingly shows to the
astonishment, embarrassment and anguish of the younger frustrated
character, played by Brendan Fraser.
To be sure, Fraser is not a great actor, as compared to the natural
talent of Judd, or even, Grace Zabriskie or Viggo Mortensen, for
example. Loren Dean also does a fine job, as a hard working young
man surviving tooth and nail, with a funeral home operator selling
coffins, and other services. But Fraser, at the end of the day, did
an honest day's work, gave it all he could and doesn't seem entirely
bad in the role.
For 99% of viewers, PASSION OF DARKLY NOON will be one of the most
perplexing, incomprehensible, unfathomable movies imaginable.
But then, if you can get a kick out of seeing Viggo's and Judd's
characters teasing the young man, who himself, is tortured by his
own fanatically religious upbringing, ( of an outcast sect), played
by Fraser, and like Dali's paintings, you'll enjoy this picture.
Member Reviews
Read All...
Welcome To An Enchanted Forest Of The Bizarre And Unusual - c4th
The Passion of Darkly Noon is a psychological thriller – heavy on the psychological. Philip Ridley (Writer and Director) delivers a dark and violent erotic tale of lust and compassion delivered in a bizarre style that many viewers will find delightfully disturbing.
When ...Hindsight Error - BigGirlBlue2
I saw this movie when it was first released and have always wanted to see it again because of Viggo Mortensen and Ashley Judd. For the life of me I can't remember it being so bad. The editing was choppy (although there are some beautifully framed shots) and ...Innovative and original - Porkchop
The title "Passion of Darkly Noon" defines this movie: weird.
Period.
Darkly Noon is the name of the character, who is obviously either
off his medication or seems to be going through several trauma in
his life.
The movie, to be sure, ...