I have read a few reviews regarding this movie and all of them have said it's dark, violent and not for the faint of heart. Those definitions are fine, however I still do not think this is enough to describe the tone of the movie. I would describe it as ruthless and depressing. This does not mean I didn't enjoy it, as you can tell by my rating, however the point of a review is to warn a potential viewer of what they are getting themselves into and this movie is as dark as I have seen. It is unlike any western that I have ever seen as it is not traditional. It's so unique that I would have given this a bit of a higher rating if it wasn't so hard to watch. I do not want to ruin any of the plot as it made the movie more interesting for me just based on what I had seen in the trailers. I can see why it was set in the western time period due to the realism of the material. A movie like this set in our times would have been impossible to make, and if they did it would not have been executed as well as this. The acting was quite impressive. It truly feels like each actor really threw themselves in their roles, which is incredible for some as there are some twisted characters in this film. Which brings me to Guy Pearce who played the role of 'The Reverend'. He plays such an awful man that I have no idea how he would have been able to shake this off after filming was completed. I cannot remember the last time I hated a character as much as a despised him. Dakota Fanning was also amazing in her role. She was convincing from start to finish with many different emotions throughout the movie. She also needed to use facial expressions more than dialogue in the movie, which cannot not be an easy task to complete, but she nailed it! When I had first seen the length of the movie I was concerned it would have major passing issues, it did not. The story grabs you from the beginning to the end, I couldn't stop watching. I had no idea how it would end and could not wait to find out. The most impressive part is it really did not have a lot of action, just characters that grabbed your attention whether good or bad. It was well written. So if you are not of the faint of heart and can handle a very dark, ruthless, depressing story that is still entertaining from start to finish see this movie, you won't regret it.
390 Reviews
Very dark movie
peterkarapk25 December 2018
How Might Be the Heart of Someone that Writes Such a Story?
claudio_carvalho29 December 2018
"Brimstone" is one film that arises emotion and stays in the viewer. The long and realistic story is one of the gloomiest, most depressing, cruel and unfair without redemption ever written. However, let me make clear that the film is excellent and the viewer shall not give up watching in the beginning. The screenplay divided in four parts - Revelation, Exodus, Genesis and Retribution - is perfect, disclosing the non-chronological saga of the protagonist Liz / Joanna. The cast is magnificent, with Guy Pearce representing the personification of evil and Dakota Fanning difficult to be recognized in the role of a "cursed" woman, supported by Carice van Houten and Kit Harington. The locations, costumes and cinematography are top notch and the haunting music score is also magnificent. The only question that remains is how might be the heart of someone that writes such a story? My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "Amaldiçoada" ("Cursed")
Title (Brazil): "Amaldiçoada" ("Cursed")
A super powerful film that depresses deeply
Gordon-1111 April 2017
This film tells the story of a woman who cannot speak many years ago in a small town in the United States of America. She endures the many horrors that life has put her through, and it all started because of a priest.
The long runtime put me off watching it for a few weeks, but I finally got myself to watch it. I can honestly say that every minute of the film is worth watching, and every minute of the film affected me right to the core. I won't spoil any of the plot, so all I'll say is that. I cannot imagine so much misfortunes can be bestowed upon a person, yet the presentation of this horrid story is so very believable. It feels like I'm watching someone's life up close, and what happens to her makes me sick right to the core, right from the start to the end. The events portrayed are truly horrifying, and I'm still paralysed by Shock and disbelief minutes after watching it. Acting is great by Dakota Fanning and Guy Pearce, they make their characters shine. I cannot imagine a monster as sick as this character in the film. I am still having headache and palpitations from the evil character. I honestly can't remember when was the last time I felt so sick because of a film.
Watch this film if you have the chance, but watch it alone and when you feel strong enough for a very depressing emotional challenge.
The long runtime put me off watching it for a few weeks, but I finally got myself to watch it. I can honestly say that every minute of the film is worth watching, and every minute of the film affected me right to the core. I won't spoil any of the plot, so all I'll say is that. I cannot imagine so much misfortunes can be bestowed upon a person, yet the presentation of this horrid story is so very believable. It feels like I'm watching someone's life up close, and what happens to her makes me sick right to the core, right from the start to the end. The events portrayed are truly horrifying, and I'm still paralysed by Shock and disbelief minutes after watching it. Acting is great by Dakota Fanning and Guy Pearce, they make their characters shine. I cannot imagine a monster as sick as this character in the film. I am still having headache and palpitations from the evil character. I honestly can't remember when was the last time I felt so sick because of a film.
Watch this film if you have the chance, but watch it alone and when you feel strong enough for a very depressing emotional challenge.
Great but horrible
melina-7758712 December 2016
This movie was a good movie in my opinion. The story was well- constructed, the themes were relevant and compelling and the acting was extraordinary, especially the reverent and Dakota Fanning (saw her in American pastoral too the other day, she is a force to be reckoned with in the acting world). So yes, this is a good movie.
But would I recommend watching it to any of my friends or family? No, probably not, because although it was a good movie it made me feel horrible afterwards (as in crying in the bathroom horrible), and this is coming from someone who has seen her fair share of horrors and thrillers throughout the years. I don't know why, but there was something so incredibly heart-wrenching about this movie for me that i have barely slept last night. It was not because of the graphic violence per se, although it didn't help of course, but just because of the atmosphere created throughout the movie.
So if you are planning on watching keep in mind that it is not for the faint-hearted (I feel like Albus Dumbledore warning about the Triwizard tournament lol)
But would I recommend watching it to any of my friends or family? No, probably not, because although it was a good movie it made me feel horrible afterwards (as in crying in the bathroom horrible), and this is coming from someone who has seen her fair share of horrors and thrillers throughout the years. I don't know why, but there was something so incredibly heart-wrenching about this movie for me that i have barely slept last night. It was not because of the graphic violence per se, although it didn't help of course, but just because of the atmosphere created throughout the movie.
So if you are planning on watching keep in mind that it is not for the faint-hearted (I feel like Albus Dumbledore warning about the Triwizard tournament lol)
A film that packs a punch.....and then some. If you can stomach it you'll love it.
prestonmick14 April 2017
My advice is don't watch this before bed because you probably won't sleep, but if you do sleep, expect nightmares! You think I'm joking, I'm not!! After saying that you'd expect a bad review but to be honest I thought this was a great film with a fantastic story, it's just very hard to watch.
What can I tell you other than you won't find it an enjoyable experience because it's deeply unsettling, disturbing, brutal and savage, but it's still an extraordinarily gripping film and Dakota Fanning especially is mesmerising.
I didn't watch a trailer before embarking on this journey into hell but I had read a couple of reviews but it still didn't prepare me for what was to come, so be warned! Saying that don't think there is gore and brutality thrown about simply as a shock factor. It's all very relative to the story, and one very twisted character which makes it so immersive and powerful.
An excellently made film and a gripping tale expertly told, incredibly acted out by a great cast.
What can I tell you other than you won't find it an enjoyable experience because it's deeply unsettling, disturbing, brutal and savage, but it's still an extraordinarily gripping film and Dakota Fanning especially is mesmerising.
I didn't watch a trailer before embarking on this journey into hell but I had read a couple of reviews but it still didn't prepare me for what was to come, so be warned! Saying that don't think there is gore and brutality thrown about simply as a shock factor. It's all very relative to the story, and one very twisted character which makes it so immersive and powerful.
An excellently made film and a gripping tale expertly told, incredibly acted out by a great cast.
Brimstone is an interesting suspense thriller, a tale about survival and an ode to resistance made by an unusual female protagonist who refuses to have her will subjugated
fernandoschiavi13 February 2022
The narrative is divided into four non-linear acts - three of them named after the titles of books of the Scriptures - that accompany the trajectory of violence that umbilical unites the lives of its two protagonists. Portraying, it can be said, his own conception of what hell would be, the Dutch director exposes a film with beautiful photography, beautiful performances and interesting narrative, although it lacks a bit of the metaphorical pretension that his script tries to convey.
Fortunately, this choice by Koolhoven was right to maintain a high level of interest in the viewer for practically the entire film, although the duration drags a little towards the end. Such a structure would also be useless if the director did not keep each chapter - which have totally different themes, actors, objectives and scenarios - in a strong and explicit unity. Balancing well the peculiarity of each part of Liz's life told in this way, the director manages to expose a whole highlighting the particularity of each part of the film. For such an admirable work, the use of different photographs, sometimes grayish, sometimes reddish, is only equal to the patience in the development of the characters. Whether in the brothel or with the pigs, the screenwriter manages to create a solid poetic unity, with rhymes and repetitions capable of merging every part of his protagonist's life, generating a constant evolution in our perception of what has already been seen. A prudent expansion that rests, certainly, on the shoulders of the excellent supporting cast, which runs through each arc dictating the tone of the film.
Brimstone is an interesting suspense thriller set in an Western given over to barbarism, inhabited by cruel and misogynistic men, where all sorts of injustices are approaching women, sexually trafficked by their own relatives or by strangers as if they were products in the shelves (nothing very different from what still happens in many places), without anyone moving a straw to end it - and the few heroes who try to break the shackles of this chain of exploitation and violence do not experience the glamor of fiction: they are easily killed. And forgotten. Brimstone is a tale about survival and an ode to resistance made by an unusual female protagonist who refuses to have her will subjugated again and again in the face of the endless cruelty of a fanatical and sadistic persecutor. The violence is brutal, incessant and over-the-top, making the viewer uncomfortable at all times, but it's a device that serves the story rather than just being used to provoke shock.
Dutch director Martin Koolhoven's camera is sinuous, always on the lookout, observing events through windows, cracks and half-open doors. Its aesthetic is that of a thriller - and the versatility of the western merges with the genre naturally. The slow, sonorous footsteps on the wooden thresholds are repeated throughout the film; the compositions that begin showing the characters from the ground as well, as well as the sideways glances and the crooked silences. The use of traveling is constant, but imperceptible: the movements of approaching and closing the shots are subtle. Silent background entrances - always with little depth of field - are recurrent and competently establish an ambience of mystery and tension that keep the viewer attentive to every detail. Tom Holkenborg's soundtrack, full of choirs and strings - with an emphasis on the characteristic gravity of the cellos - creates a cautious gothic sound that raises the slowness of the film's cinematographic construction to its throes.
The script signed by Martin Koolhoven himself is essential in creating the thriller atmosphere. The idea of telling the story in four non-linear acts plays alongside the narrative, which is essentially allegorical, and details about Liz and the Reverend slowly unfold. Dakota Fanning is terrified when Guy Pearce's voice echoes through the church in the first few minutes of the work. She has her back to the pulpit, fixing her daughter's clothes, and the camera slowly pans around her face. Her desperation is palpable, but the mystery of the real reason for her primal fear won't be revealed anytime soon. The Liz who observes the Reverend's intimidating presence in her living room, frightened through the cracks in the doors, is the same Joanna who, at 12 years of age, fearfully observes the violence her mother suffers. Parallelism is frequent in the composition of the chapters, and the force of some gestures and movements will only be fully understood at the end, looking back.
The script work, however, does not go unscathed. Although Guy Pearce gives the reverend an instant gravity, facilitated by Koolhoven's dark costume and camera that transform him into a kind of incarnate and mysterious evil, the character himself suffers from a stereotype of fanaticism that constantly takes him out of any situation. Three-dimensionality capable of sustaining him as an iconic figure. It is true that the reverend is atrocious, despicable and frightening, but it is also true that his psychopathic and hypocritical conviction does not go much further than that, which makes him, at certain moments in the film, a kind of unstoppable exterminator.
Guy Pearce takes the film for himself in the construction of an absolutely detestable and malevolent type of psychotic behavior and diabolical motivation. The Reverend has an extremely twisted and perverted view of Christianity, in which he seeks to validate (for himself) even sex with a child, and the monstrosity of his actions leads the character into an endless cycle of sin and violence. His persona seems to represent an ancient evil that walks the Earth as if he were the Devil incarnate that cannot be stopped by anyone. Pearce's performance is precise, with his husky voice and expressions that transition from apparent calm and benevolence to hatred and iniquity. The Reverend is a wolf in sheep's clothing - and the actor even howls insanely as he chases Liz and Sam. Dakota Fanning is another one that deserves applause, her character in almost the entire story communicates through signs and facial expressions, it's not something simple to do, but she does it in a way that we understand the intention and feelings of the character. His young version played by Emilia Jones also delivers a powerful performance for someone with little experience.
The film deals with religious fanaticism, misogyny and human self-improvement in a careful yet visceral way - the stomach-turning kind, almost literally. The right decision, in this sense, was to tell the story from the perspective of fragile Liz, something rarely seen in a western as brutal as this one. But what seems to be a great biblical metaphor in its beginnings falls, due to excessive pretension, in a beautiful journey of heroism and courage in the face of evil and suffering that permeate life, whether in the 19th or 21st century. Another important point to mention is that the plot is far from being a horror, many will be confused by the name Brimstone that it is about anything related to the supernatural, but nothing like that happens. The production focuses on a dramatic and intense thriller with a Western movie atmosphere, but the narrative doesn't stop shocking or bringing disturbing scenes.
Brimstone is disturbing and extremely violent. Its sequels are uncomfortable and cause distress. It makes explicit certain sequences with a lot of graphics, but insinuates, much more than it shows, others even more atrocious. Hangings, tortures, suicides, intestines tied around the necks of half-dead victims, tongues cut out (when we discover what happened to make Liz lose her tongue, the sequence is shocking, but cloudy: it is a scene that disturbs, but is not shown in details), torn bodies fed to pigs, sexual assaults on children... there is all sorts of evil in the lawless land where Liz tries to escape the persecution of her ruthless tormentor. And executioner in the most perfect etymological meaning of the word.
Many will complain about the two and a half hours of the film, I thought it was valid, of course there are some unnecessary plots, including one that I found completely uninteresting is the introduction of the character Samuel played by Kit Harington (Game Of Thrones), he even has some importance in the Liz's trajectory, but overall, her development was quite out of place. The last chapter also leaves much to be desired, I expected a more epic and painful conclusion, however, everything ends too easily. Everyone wanted to see the Reverend suffer more and pay for all the suffering he'd caused poor Liz. But, in a way, she finds her redemption through her daughter.
An apotheotic and exaggerated closing, loaded with the inks of metaphor, anticipates the true conclusion of the work. A ramification of a past event ends up in the protagonist's future, after the long duel - physical and mental - against the Reverend. Unjust and desperate, resolutely sad but inexorable. At the same time, he signals hopeful as the lights illuminate Elli's father's hovel so many years into the future. The narration of the first seconds of Brimstone is the same as the last moments. We finally understand the unfathomable opening scene that takes place under the waters of a lake. And the civilizing cycle continues unscathed, indifferent to the vicissitudes of that environment. Violence does not prevent life from moving forward, and a supposed evil atavism finds no place in the descendants of those people. They can live without the weight of the past, marching unabated towards the future, keeping in memory only the examples of intense strength and perseverance of a warrior woman, who never bowed before a cruel fate that seemed manifest - she preferred freedom, and he fought for it tirelessly, bearing whatever costs were necessary on this journey of pain and suffering.
Fortunately, this choice by Koolhoven was right to maintain a high level of interest in the viewer for practically the entire film, although the duration drags a little towards the end. Such a structure would also be useless if the director did not keep each chapter - which have totally different themes, actors, objectives and scenarios - in a strong and explicit unity. Balancing well the peculiarity of each part of Liz's life told in this way, the director manages to expose a whole highlighting the particularity of each part of the film. For such an admirable work, the use of different photographs, sometimes grayish, sometimes reddish, is only equal to the patience in the development of the characters. Whether in the brothel or with the pigs, the screenwriter manages to create a solid poetic unity, with rhymes and repetitions capable of merging every part of his protagonist's life, generating a constant evolution in our perception of what has already been seen. A prudent expansion that rests, certainly, on the shoulders of the excellent supporting cast, which runs through each arc dictating the tone of the film.
Brimstone is an interesting suspense thriller set in an Western given over to barbarism, inhabited by cruel and misogynistic men, where all sorts of injustices are approaching women, sexually trafficked by their own relatives or by strangers as if they were products in the shelves (nothing very different from what still happens in many places), without anyone moving a straw to end it - and the few heroes who try to break the shackles of this chain of exploitation and violence do not experience the glamor of fiction: they are easily killed. And forgotten. Brimstone is a tale about survival and an ode to resistance made by an unusual female protagonist who refuses to have her will subjugated again and again in the face of the endless cruelty of a fanatical and sadistic persecutor. The violence is brutal, incessant and over-the-top, making the viewer uncomfortable at all times, but it's a device that serves the story rather than just being used to provoke shock.
Dutch director Martin Koolhoven's camera is sinuous, always on the lookout, observing events through windows, cracks and half-open doors. Its aesthetic is that of a thriller - and the versatility of the western merges with the genre naturally. The slow, sonorous footsteps on the wooden thresholds are repeated throughout the film; the compositions that begin showing the characters from the ground as well, as well as the sideways glances and the crooked silences. The use of traveling is constant, but imperceptible: the movements of approaching and closing the shots are subtle. Silent background entrances - always with little depth of field - are recurrent and competently establish an ambience of mystery and tension that keep the viewer attentive to every detail. Tom Holkenborg's soundtrack, full of choirs and strings - with an emphasis on the characteristic gravity of the cellos - creates a cautious gothic sound that raises the slowness of the film's cinematographic construction to its throes.
The script signed by Martin Koolhoven himself is essential in creating the thriller atmosphere. The idea of telling the story in four non-linear acts plays alongside the narrative, which is essentially allegorical, and details about Liz and the Reverend slowly unfold. Dakota Fanning is terrified when Guy Pearce's voice echoes through the church in the first few minutes of the work. She has her back to the pulpit, fixing her daughter's clothes, and the camera slowly pans around her face. Her desperation is palpable, but the mystery of the real reason for her primal fear won't be revealed anytime soon. The Liz who observes the Reverend's intimidating presence in her living room, frightened through the cracks in the doors, is the same Joanna who, at 12 years of age, fearfully observes the violence her mother suffers. Parallelism is frequent in the composition of the chapters, and the force of some gestures and movements will only be fully understood at the end, looking back.
The script work, however, does not go unscathed. Although Guy Pearce gives the reverend an instant gravity, facilitated by Koolhoven's dark costume and camera that transform him into a kind of incarnate and mysterious evil, the character himself suffers from a stereotype of fanaticism that constantly takes him out of any situation. Three-dimensionality capable of sustaining him as an iconic figure. It is true that the reverend is atrocious, despicable and frightening, but it is also true that his psychopathic and hypocritical conviction does not go much further than that, which makes him, at certain moments in the film, a kind of unstoppable exterminator.
Guy Pearce takes the film for himself in the construction of an absolutely detestable and malevolent type of psychotic behavior and diabolical motivation. The Reverend has an extremely twisted and perverted view of Christianity, in which he seeks to validate (for himself) even sex with a child, and the monstrosity of his actions leads the character into an endless cycle of sin and violence. His persona seems to represent an ancient evil that walks the Earth as if he were the Devil incarnate that cannot be stopped by anyone. Pearce's performance is precise, with his husky voice and expressions that transition from apparent calm and benevolence to hatred and iniquity. The Reverend is a wolf in sheep's clothing - and the actor even howls insanely as he chases Liz and Sam. Dakota Fanning is another one that deserves applause, her character in almost the entire story communicates through signs and facial expressions, it's not something simple to do, but she does it in a way that we understand the intention and feelings of the character. His young version played by Emilia Jones also delivers a powerful performance for someone with little experience.
The film deals with religious fanaticism, misogyny and human self-improvement in a careful yet visceral way - the stomach-turning kind, almost literally. The right decision, in this sense, was to tell the story from the perspective of fragile Liz, something rarely seen in a western as brutal as this one. But what seems to be a great biblical metaphor in its beginnings falls, due to excessive pretension, in a beautiful journey of heroism and courage in the face of evil and suffering that permeate life, whether in the 19th or 21st century. Another important point to mention is that the plot is far from being a horror, many will be confused by the name Brimstone that it is about anything related to the supernatural, but nothing like that happens. The production focuses on a dramatic and intense thriller with a Western movie atmosphere, but the narrative doesn't stop shocking or bringing disturbing scenes.
Brimstone is disturbing and extremely violent. Its sequels are uncomfortable and cause distress. It makes explicit certain sequences with a lot of graphics, but insinuates, much more than it shows, others even more atrocious. Hangings, tortures, suicides, intestines tied around the necks of half-dead victims, tongues cut out (when we discover what happened to make Liz lose her tongue, the sequence is shocking, but cloudy: it is a scene that disturbs, but is not shown in details), torn bodies fed to pigs, sexual assaults on children... there is all sorts of evil in the lawless land where Liz tries to escape the persecution of her ruthless tormentor. And executioner in the most perfect etymological meaning of the word.
Many will complain about the two and a half hours of the film, I thought it was valid, of course there are some unnecessary plots, including one that I found completely uninteresting is the introduction of the character Samuel played by Kit Harington (Game Of Thrones), he even has some importance in the Liz's trajectory, but overall, her development was quite out of place. The last chapter also leaves much to be desired, I expected a more epic and painful conclusion, however, everything ends too easily. Everyone wanted to see the Reverend suffer more and pay for all the suffering he'd caused poor Liz. But, in a way, she finds her redemption through her daughter.
An apotheotic and exaggerated closing, loaded with the inks of metaphor, anticipates the true conclusion of the work. A ramification of a past event ends up in the protagonist's future, after the long duel - physical and mental - against the Reverend. Unjust and desperate, resolutely sad but inexorable. At the same time, he signals hopeful as the lights illuminate Elli's father's hovel so many years into the future. The narration of the first seconds of Brimstone is the same as the last moments. We finally understand the unfathomable opening scene that takes place under the waters of a lake. And the civilizing cycle continues unscathed, indifferent to the vicissitudes of that environment. Violence does not prevent life from moving forward, and a supposed evil atavism finds no place in the descendants of those people. They can live without the weight of the past, marching unabated towards the future, keeping in memory only the examples of intense strength and perseverance of a warrior woman, who never bowed before a cruel fate that seemed manifest - she preferred freedom, and he fought for it tirelessly, bearing whatever costs were necessary on this journey of pain and suffering.
This is why we go to the movies.
hugokeijzer3 January 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Howard Hawks once said that a good movie is "three good scene and no bad ones". That would make Martin Koolhoven's Brimstone beyond good - great even.
You know you're watching a masterpiece when not three, not five, but nearly every scene is a work of art. A powerful combination of character, conflict, beauty and above all truth. And Koolhoven's truth is in the details, the blocking of a scene, the poignant rendering of a back lit saddle creating a striking metaphor or even the empty gun pointed at an whore-abusing coal miner - helping him to climax by the very thought of violence. This is what makes cinema different from theater or television - its power to tell story through images and action rather than words. How fitting that the lead character has no tongue to speak with - but still manages to steal the show.
Fanning and Pearce are true gems and shine bright in this dark epic. It's not a film for the faint-hearted or god-fearing - but I truly hope my generation will be able to appreciate a thing of beauty like this and not be disappointed at the absence of Tarantino-like crowd pleasers. This is not a self conscious meta western, but a real story about human's struggle with religion, violence and above all man's fear of women. Koolhoven has given us in the Netherlands something to be proud of again - Cinema with balls that confronts and provokes.
I'm sure many people will be offended, disgusted - and so should they - the world is not as depicted in the Marvel universe, where no action has real consequences. In this time of populism and mass manipulation we need people like Martin Koolhoven who are willing to spend years perfecting their craft - creating fiction that reveals the truth our reality obscures. Go and see for yourself - Love it - Hate it - Ten years from now we'll still be talking about this film.
You know you're watching a masterpiece when not three, not five, but nearly every scene is a work of art. A powerful combination of character, conflict, beauty and above all truth. And Koolhoven's truth is in the details, the blocking of a scene, the poignant rendering of a back lit saddle creating a striking metaphor or even the empty gun pointed at an whore-abusing coal miner - helping him to climax by the very thought of violence. This is what makes cinema different from theater or television - its power to tell story through images and action rather than words. How fitting that the lead character has no tongue to speak with - but still manages to steal the show.
Fanning and Pearce are true gems and shine bright in this dark epic. It's not a film for the faint-hearted or god-fearing - but I truly hope my generation will be able to appreciate a thing of beauty like this and not be disappointed at the absence of Tarantino-like crowd pleasers. This is not a self conscious meta western, but a real story about human's struggle with religion, violence and above all man's fear of women. Koolhoven has given us in the Netherlands something to be proud of again - Cinema with balls that confronts and provokes.
I'm sure many people will be offended, disgusted - and so should they - the world is not as depicted in the Marvel universe, where no action has real consequences. In this time of populism and mass manipulation we need people like Martin Koolhoven who are willing to spend years perfecting their craft - creating fiction that reveals the truth our reality obscures. Go and see for yourself - Love it - Hate it - Ten years from now we'll still be talking about this film.
An epic sized film about how disposable women were probably universally treated in general.
omegawolf127 December 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Brilliantly acted, directed, very well scored. Also, the cinematography was gorgeous.
At first, I was going to give this film a 3/10 because it didn't seem to have any redeeming value. But it's really just about one small (ish) women who in a way represented all women of that time - seemingly powerless. Fanning does an amazing job of gathering strength throughout the film until it seems like she will win in the end. That is until her past catches her, accepts her fate but also knowing in her heart her daughter may have it better. The director does a phenomenal job of portraying this doomed character arc.
However, thought the Kip Harrington ending should've been done differently. And the sign language thing wasn't completely believable. Also, could've done without so much disgusting violence. Some wasn't completely believable.
But overall, a very interesting film. Pearce and Fanning were worth the price of admission alone or by themselves. Without their performances, the film really wouldn't have worked at all. But also, great performances by the rest of the cast.
The Reverend is a about a twisted interpretation of the bible brought to life, a despicable psyche, and how both have probably fed off each other his entire life to justify his actions at any given moment.
At first, I was going to give this film a 3/10 because it didn't seem to have any redeeming value. But it's really just about one small (ish) women who in a way represented all women of that time - seemingly powerless. Fanning does an amazing job of gathering strength throughout the film until it seems like she will win in the end. That is until her past catches her, accepts her fate but also knowing in her heart her daughter may have it better. The director does a phenomenal job of portraying this doomed character arc.
However, thought the Kip Harrington ending should've been done differently. And the sign language thing wasn't completely believable. Also, could've done without so much disgusting violence. Some wasn't completely believable.
But overall, a very interesting film. Pearce and Fanning were worth the price of admission alone or by themselves. Without their performances, the film really wouldn't have worked at all. But also, great performances by the rest of the cast.
The Reverend is a about a twisted interpretation of the bible brought to life, a despicable psyche, and how both have probably fed off each other his entire life to justify his actions at any given moment.
A brutal and harrowing Western
brchthethird15 April 2017
Brutal. Harrowing. Unforgiving. Just a few words that come to mind that succinctly describe the experience of watching BRIMSTONE. If you like/don't mind the unsavory and uncompromising in your entertainment you'll probably enjoy this. If you like languidly paced art films, then you'll probably enjoy this. Otherwise, you might lose your patience. The narrative unfolds slowly and methodically, but the payoff is mostly worth the time taken to get there. Aiming to keep this spoiler-free, a brief synopsis is that a new minister (Guy Pearce) comes to a small Western town, and this puts a mute woman (Dakota Fanning) on edge, especially after a miscarriage puts her at odds with her fellow townsfolk. One further important detail is that the film is divided into four chapters, and the first three of these unfold in reverse chronological order. The movie centers around Dakota Fanning and Guy Pearce's characters, and the narrative structure allowed the director to withhold key information until the right time. Of course, like many other films with unique narrative devices, remove it and the film wouldn't be nearly as effective. That being said, there's plenty of stuff that goes on in nearly two and a half hours. A little indulgent? Sure, but all of the narrative elements are good enough to not make this much of a deal-breaker. I will say that the pacing, though slow, was steady and I never got bored. Thematically, Martin Koolhoven (the director) was able to use the period setting effectively to portray a world of religious coercion and the lengths men will go to justify oppressing women. Guy Pearce's character was basically evil incarnate, and it was a scarily brilliant performance. Dakota Fanning also did well, certainly better than I've seen out of her before. Kit Harrington also had a small role as a man that Dakota Fanning's character secretly nurses back to health, and who also teaches her a valuable lesson. From the more technical side, I greatly enjoyed the beautiful cinematography, and the haunting score by Tom Holkenborg (aka, JunkieXL). All things considered, this is one of the best films I've seen in a while, Western or not. For some reason, Europeans seem to do a better job nowadays tackling this genre, and BRIMSTONE is no exception. As long as you're a somewhat patient viewer, and not easily offended, I can highly recommend this.
Wonderful acting, keeps you on the edge of your seat.
clivevarejes2 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Brimstone is a heart rending, edge of the seat movie.
That being said it is 30 minutes too long, and it really leaves you with a feeling of, oh come on now, it's enough already."
It just doesn't stop with the,"Satan never dies" gambit.
It would have been great with at least one less "risen from the grave" scene.
Horror in the West
wmcauliffe-004259 December 2020
This is a great but very violent filming about among other things misogyny.It's really a Horror film set in the Old West.Has a go at religion which i like,and has great acting by all,and my favourite actor Guy Pearce in evil but fine form.
Ouch
wrightiswright15 August 2019
Not an easy film to watch, but well worth the effort if you can stomach all the hardships our infinitely sympathetic lead has to endure.
One catastrophe after another befalls poor Dakota Fanning, mainly thanks to ONE OF THE WORST HUMAN BEINGS EVER TO WALK THE FACE OF THE PLANET (Guy Pierce doing a top notch job) and the inherit sexism of the 19th century.
Yep, this is the kind of downright despicable depravity you won't see on those Sunday afternoon Westerns your grandpappy falls asleep to. If you like the typically sanitised Cowboys vs Indians in a romanticised setting, this ain't for you.
On the other hand, if you fancy being dragged through seven shades of hell before emerging to blink on the other side feeling every emotion possible... then saddle up, pardner. Have I got the movie for you.
One catastrophe after another befalls poor Dakota Fanning, mainly thanks to ONE OF THE WORST HUMAN BEINGS EVER TO WALK THE FACE OF THE PLANET (Guy Pierce doing a top notch job) and the inherit sexism of the 19th century.
Yep, this is the kind of downright despicable depravity you won't see on those Sunday afternoon Westerns your grandpappy falls asleep to. If you like the typically sanitised Cowboys vs Indians in a romanticised setting, this ain't for you.
On the other hand, if you fancy being dragged through seven shades of hell before emerging to blink on the other side feeling every emotion possible... then saddle up, pardner. Have I got the movie for you.
Worse than bad
sjtbiz18 April 2017
Warning: Spoilers
What a load of tripe. There is a higher chance in getting me to believe in Demons from Outer Space than the story-line in this abomination. Beyond finger down the throat vomit--grotesque and disgusting for effect without moral or meaning. Time sequences that are a physical impossibility, such as the nemesis getting ahead on foot to that of a horse drawn carriage within the same night (maybe 7 hours) to kill a Ram, have the ram cool off enough to be covered with snow, then put in the path of the (now behind him) carriage as to cause the carriage with the protagonist to run over it and falter--and that same person sitting in a snow and fog treeline with (out of nowhere) a scoped long rifle and kill a target completely obscured by dense fog. Just completely and brazenly stupid and unbelievable. The constant infliction of pain and suffering on countless people in this flick who cold easily have escaped same, or ended their repression. JUNK, sensationalized junk, better watching reruns of the Flintstones, it would be historically more correct than this steaming pile of movie mush. And the ending? For what, another never would happen event. I really want my 2 hours back.
Life can be like this
mreuvers10 February 2020
It is interesting to see the shear amount of negative reviews here, while I think this movie portrays a very realistic scenario in a lawless US at that time. It still portrays a realistic scenario in some parts of the world today. Its unrelenting violence and utter hopelessness reminds me a lot of a famous novel by Kosinski: the painted bird.
If you came here to see your typical 100 in a dozen Hollywood happy ending movies, better move on to something different. Seriously. This movie will make you sad, hopeless and angry at the same time.
If you want to descent into the dark part of human-kind, here on full display in all its naked ugliness, go see it. It's masterful in my opinion.
If you came here to see your typical 100 in a dozen Hollywood happy ending movies, better move on to something different. Seriously. This movie will make you sad, hopeless and angry at the same time.
If you want to descent into the dark part of human-kind, here on full display in all its naked ugliness, go see it. It's masterful in my opinion.
Gripping storyline makes this truly miserable film worthwhile
adamonIMDb9 June 2018
It's impossible for anybody to say that they 'enjoyed' this film, because there's nothing at all to enjoy. It's a dark, bleak and utterly depressing film from the first scene to the last. What makes 'Brimstone' worth watching is its gripping storyline, first rate cinematography and fascinating bunch of character. It has the feel of a high end, expensive production and is difficult to fault in a technical sense.
'Brimstone' is brutal and uncompromising in its approach and features no end of violence and torment. This contributes to a tense and depressing atmosphere which remains throughout the film. A lot of people will be put off by this alone, and I wouldn't recommend watching this film if you aren't in the mood for something emotionally deep and powerful. Those who give it a chance though are rewarded with a very well made film with a gripping storyline that, despite the truly miserable tone, is definitely worth your time.
'Brimstone' is brutal and uncompromising in its approach and features no end of violence and torment. This contributes to a tense and depressing atmosphere which remains throughout the film. A lot of people will be put off by this alone, and I wouldn't recommend watching this film if you aren't in the mood for something emotionally deep and powerful. Those who give it a chance though are rewarded with a very well made film with a gripping storyline that, despite the truly miserable tone, is definitely worth your time.
Horribly amazing
missyzoi19 September 2019
A Unique Horror Western Combination With The DeFacto Morality Theme
AudioFileZ13 March 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Brimstone plays as a 4-act western with heavy elements of a lawless and immoral time elevated to the brink of a horror movie. In other words it's 100% dark. It certainly has deep themes one can decipher differently and wrapped in mystery which the two middle acts slowly unfold like nested Faberge eggs of what it is about.
A lot rests on the performances of "The Reverend" played by Guy Pierce and Dakota Fanning's Liz. Pearce has played heavies before and he exponentially multiplies it with a devilish off-the-charts creep factor which makes him, perhaps, the most hated celluloid villain imaginable. Dakota Fanning proves in one fell swoop she's not going to be remembered only as child actress. With slight dialog (she wasn't always mute) she proves how amazing she can be when given an exceptional role. It's great to see a classic western (the good/the bad) re-invented in such a way that the morality play is totally fresh. Brimstone is a harrowing ride from the start right up until the last and like a train wreck you simply can't help turn away from. It's not like anything the long playing genre has seen so be aware the consensus seems to be highly polarized. This reviewer found it worthy, your mileage may vary.
A lot rests on the performances of "The Reverend" played by Guy Pierce and Dakota Fanning's Liz. Pearce has played heavies before and he exponentially multiplies it with a devilish off-the-charts creep factor which makes him, perhaps, the most hated celluloid villain imaginable. Dakota Fanning proves in one fell swoop she's not going to be remembered only as child actress. With slight dialog (she wasn't always mute) she proves how amazing she can be when given an exceptional role. It's great to see a classic western (the good/the bad) re-invented in such a way that the morality play is totally fresh. Brimstone is a harrowing ride from the start right up until the last and like a train wreck you simply can't help turn away from. It's not like anything the long playing genre has seen so be aware the consensus seems to be highly polarized. This reviewer found it worthy, your mileage may vary.
Powerful filmmaking at it's best!
Hellmant28 April 2017
'BRIMSTONE': Five Stars (Out of Five)
A western thriller about a girl that must protect her family from a sinister new reverend, and the past they share that brought on this horrible conflict. It was written and directed by Martin Koolhoven. The cast features Dakota Fanning, Guy Pearce, Emilia Jones and Kit Harington. The film got really positive reviews from critics in Europe, and at festivals, but it's also oddly gotten mostly negative reviews from critics in America. I agree with the European critics and the festivals.
Liz (Fanning) is a mute housewife that's trying to fit in to a small town. When a new reverend (Pearce) arrives there, she knows she can't trust him and she fears that her family is in great danger. The reverend also appears to have great mistrust for Liz, and he seems to hold some kind of a sinister grudge against her. We later learn, through three more chapters, why the two have such a horrifyingly unhealthy relationship with each other.
The movie is powerful filmmaking at it's best. It's also as disturbing as hell though, and it made me feel completely depressed (and kind of awful) while I was watching it (and after). It's so well made, and acted though (Pearce is amazing in it). There are so many totally involving and nightmarish scenes in it too, that will haunt me forever probably. I have to respect a film like that. It's 2 hours and 30 minutes long also, and it's never dull or a chore to sit through. I think it's an epic masterpiece, and a film I'll never forget; despite how negative it might make me feel, about life and the world in general. It's also a great female empowerment tale too though. The world is a screwed up place at times (often). It's also a very beautiful place too, but we need movies (and all types of art) that masterfully illustrate both. This is one of those dark art masterpieces, that deserves to be respected I think.
Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: https://vimeo.com/217879519
A western thriller about a girl that must protect her family from a sinister new reverend, and the past they share that brought on this horrible conflict. It was written and directed by Martin Koolhoven. The cast features Dakota Fanning, Guy Pearce, Emilia Jones and Kit Harington. The film got really positive reviews from critics in Europe, and at festivals, but it's also oddly gotten mostly negative reviews from critics in America. I agree with the European critics and the festivals.
Liz (Fanning) is a mute housewife that's trying to fit in to a small town. When a new reverend (Pearce) arrives there, she knows she can't trust him and she fears that her family is in great danger. The reverend also appears to have great mistrust for Liz, and he seems to hold some kind of a sinister grudge against her. We later learn, through three more chapters, why the two have such a horrifyingly unhealthy relationship with each other.
The movie is powerful filmmaking at it's best. It's also as disturbing as hell though, and it made me feel completely depressed (and kind of awful) while I was watching it (and after). It's so well made, and acted though (Pearce is amazing in it). There are so many totally involving and nightmarish scenes in it too, that will haunt me forever probably. I have to respect a film like that. It's 2 hours and 30 minutes long also, and it's never dull or a chore to sit through. I think it's an epic masterpiece, and a film I'll never forget; despite how negative it might make me feel, about life and the world in general. It's also a great female empowerment tale too though. The world is a screwed up place at times (often). It's also a very beautiful place too, but we need movies (and all types of art) that masterfully illustrate both. This is one of those dark art masterpieces, that deserves to be respected I think.
Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: https://vimeo.com/217879519
The less you know, the more this movie will catch you unawares
myignisrules11 May 2017
While Brimstone would register to most, as a Western (and for the most part it is), the horror elements cannot be denied. The gruesome kills and vicious shark-like nature of this movies protagonist, played terrifyingly well, by Guy Pearce, will keep you glued to your screen, even with the long run time of 2hrs plus.
Dakota Fanning is at the top of her game here, in a role that requires her to show, not tell. She and Guy Pearce are the main reasons why Brimstone is as good as it is, while young actress, Emilia Jones, also delivers.
It's a slow burn, so for those with a lack of patience, this movie might seem tedious, but for myself , the performances, the unexpected brutality and the strength and tenaciousness of our heroine Liz, makes Brimstone a must see.
If you enjoyed, Bone Tomahawk, you'll find a lot to like about Brimstone.
Dakota Fanning is at the top of her game here, in a role that requires her to show, not tell. She and Guy Pearce are the main reasons why Brimstone is as good as it is, while young actress, Emilia Jones, also delivers.
It's a slow burn, so for those with a lack of patience, this movie might seem tedious, but for myself , the performances, the unexpected brutality and the strength and tenaciousness of our heroine Liz, makes Brimstone a must see.
If you enjoyed, Bone Tomahawk, you'll find a lot to like about Brimstone.
Portrays the dark side of the religion while maintaining the suspense until the end
biosterminator29 December 2016
I am so glad I took the chance to watch it before premier. This movie may not have "the most unexpected ending"-factor like other top thrillers.However, the great acting and the setting manages to keep that thrill alive until the end.
As pointed by others, it is not suitable for faint-hatred and you may encounter some violent scenes which may make you feel utterly disgusted but this makes the film more realistic and leaves you craving for justice.
If TV-series like Game of thrones, Outlander, West World intrigues you this will as well.
As pointed by others, it is not suitable for faint-hatred and you may encounter some violent scenes which may make you feel utterly disgusted but this makes the film more realistic and leaves you craving for justice.
If TV-series like Game of thrones, Outlander, West World intrigues you this will as well.
Is it art, if it gets a reaction?
rob_todd119 October 2016
Warning: Spoilers
The acting was very good, particularly the two leads - that gets the 5/10. Initially I was drawn in, but by the end (actually 1/4 in)wished I'd got a coffee rather than take in over 2 hours of an onslaught of violence.
We are told 'its art if it gets a reaction' and cinema is art. My reaction was that I left feeling a somewhat 'less of a person' for having watched the constant and graphic violence. So for me not the art I like.
What was the directors aim? I don't know, but for me this film sits with other films that portray violence for violence sake (Think Hostel) Dakota Fanning's part was even denied the silver lining of a semi happy ending, to what end? A final punch to the damaged senses of the audience?
We are told 'its art if it gets a reaction' and cinema is art. My reaction was that I left feeling a somewhat 'less of a person' for having watched the constant and graphic violence. So for me not the art I like.
What was the directors aim? I don't know, but for me this film sits with other films that portray violence for violence sake (Think Hostel) Dakota Fanning's part was even denied the silver lining of a semi happy ending, to what end? A final punch to the damaged senses of the audience?
Best movie of LFF this year
martinkoolhovenmarcsp17 October 2016
Critics have compared this movie to The Night of the Hunter, which makes sense, because of the scary reverend and it quotes some of the same biblical texts, but to me this movie felt much more like a mix between Cormac McCarthy's 'Blood Meridian', Garth Ennis' Preacher and Jodorowsky's El Topo, yet in a completely original way. While these three stories are very muscular, Brimstone's leading characters are female and the film even has a feminist message. Because stories like the ones mentioned before are violent, some people will have a problem with this. But in the end, Brimstone seems to show the world as it probably was and maybe even still is in some parts. Impressive writing, acting and film making skills.
Great storytelling.
akamalo66113 March 2017
At first I didn't want to watch this movie because of the name, but I'm glad I did. This story shows a glimpse of how hard it must have been for women back in the day! Perverts using religion to cover up their messed up heads!! This just shows the tip of the iceberg of all the struggles they were going through! People want to imagine "little house on the prairie" but this movie actually went there and showed some reality!
Less is More; More is Less
sacha_brady26 March 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I have never seen a film like this, one split into two very distinct dichotomous halves.
Acts one and two are good, bordering on excellent. The plot is thoroughly intriguing, suspenseful and well paced, neither painfully slow nor hurriedly fast. I really liked the foundation being laid out both in terms of what and how.
Fanning's character comes across as genuinely vulnerable in a refreshingly original way and it is clear Joanna is a woman with a difficult past. Pearce's character, the reverend, is the polar opposite, giving his character a real sense of menace with a skillfully understated performance.
At the mid-point, I thought 'Wow! This is like "The Crucible" meets "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly." I was thoroughly gripped. And then...
In the second half, all the good work is undone. The story verges on the ridiculous at points as the film tries to explain how the characters had ended up at this point and thrusts us towards a pantomime resolution. There is a sense of overkill about all of this and I began to feel disorientated because of expedient plot and role twists. I am not exaggerating when I say I was speechless as the credits rolled.
I wish I liked this film more, for the sake of all those involved in its making. If anything, the story of the making of this film seems far more dramatic and interesting than the film itself. It's such a shame.
Acts one and two are good, bordering on excellent. The plot is thoroughly intriguing, suspenseful and well paced, neither painfully slow nor hurriedly fast. I really liked the foundation being laid out both in terms of what and how.
Fanning's character comes across as genuinely vulnerable in a refreshingly original way and it is clear Joanna is a woman with a difficult past. Pearce's character, the reverend, is the polar opposite, giving his character a real sense of menace with a skillfully understated performance.
At the mid-point, I thought 'Wow! This is like "The Crucible" meets "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly." I was thoroughly gripped. And then...
In the second half, all the good work is undone. The story verges on the ridiculous at points as the film tries to explain how the characters had ended up at this point and thrusts us towards a pantomime resolution. There is a sense of overkill about all of this and I began to feel disorientated because of expedient plot and role twists. I am not exaggerating when I say I was speechless as the credits rolled.
I wish I liked this film more, for the sake of all those involved in its making. If anything, the story of the making of this film seems far more dramatic and interesting than the film itself. It's such a shame.
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