Mecanix
(2003/Unearthed Films/MVD DVD)
Picture:
B Sound: B Extras: C- Film: C
Disturbing
and unsettling, Remy M. Larochelle's 2003 film Mecanix is
primarily stop motion animation with some live action segments.
Tinted in a high contrast sepia color and a soundtrack that will make
your stomach turn, the film is effective for what it aims to be but
but could prove to be a hard watch for those with weak stomachs.
Mecanix
is a gothic fairy tale of the last human beings who are forced to be
the slaves to the strange creatures in an alternate universe. There
is only one thing these hideous beasts fear - the embryo of the
universe: the origin of everything. The only hope that these humans
slaves have is to free themselves from this other world before they
all die.
Obviously
done on the cheap, the film's stop motion animated segments aren't
really that all that impressive but are more sound driven, though
this is not to say it is eerily-simple animated radio by any means.
No doubt the filmmakers were influenced by David Lynch films, for at
times it reminds me of Eraserhead (see the Blu-ray elsewhere
on this site).
Presented
in standard definition with a 1.33:1 full screen aspect ratio and a
lossy Dolby Digital 2.0 track, the film looks and sounds fine on DVD.
For being experimental and the type of film it is, I don't think a
high def presentation would make too much of a difference, honestly.
The only extra is an interview with writer/director Remy M.
Larochelle and producer Phillippe Chabot.
If
you're into experimental films that take a walk on the dark side, you
may want to check this out.
-
James Lockhart
https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/
