Wow, work on this one began in 1987 and took over thirty years to complete! That alone marks this bit of stop-motion as a film worth considering. But is it worth viewing otherwise? I would have to say yes, but be under no illusions, this is not a film for everyone! There is no dialogue, so events onscreen are propelled by imagery and sound alone and its not honestly always easy to keep up with what is happening and why. On top of that, much of the imagery and events are of the grotesque variety, so viewers of a more sensitive bent should be warned. So, taking this into account, this tale of events in a post-apocalyptic fantasy world should best be approached by those with a taste for the bizarre and unpleasant. The imagery is extremely impressive, very often and this is one of those rare films which truly feels like an instant cult movie. Left-field animation fans should have a field day.
160 Reviews
There's a lot to like here visually and conceptually. I just wish there was a better plot to take it over the top
kevin_robbins30 June 2022
Mad God (2021) is a unique animated gem that was recently added to Shudder. The storyline follows a man who descends into a lost city in ruins. When he gets there he fines an array of death, torture and monstrosities that are a result of this lifestyle. He will search the city for the source of its pain and agony...
This movie is directed by Phil Tippett (Starship Troopers 2) and contains the voices of Alex Cox (Repo Man), Anthony Ruivivar (Tropic Thunder) and Talal Selhami.
The animation in this is fun and unique and reminded me a little bit of the movie 9. The universe is fascinating and the creatures within it are clever and well done. There's a good use of lighting to create intensity and curiosity. The storyline is a bit all over the place and hard to follow. The film focuses more on its outstanding special effects, gore and worthwhile action scenes rather than the plot. The surgery scenes in this are tremendous and the tank battles are very well done.
Overall, there's a lot to like here visually and conceptually. I just wish there was a better plot to take it over the top. I would score this a 7.5/10 and strongly recommend it.
This movie is directed by Phil Tippett (Starship Troopers 2) and contains the voices of Alex Cox (Repo Man), Anthony Ruivivar (Tropic Thunder) and Talal Selhami.
The animation in this is fun and unique and reminded me a little bit of the movie 9. The universe is fascinating and the creatures within it are clever and well done. There's a good use of lighting to create intensity and curiosity. The storyline is a bit all over the place and hard to follow. The film focuses more on its outstanding special effects, gore and worthwhile action scenes rather than the plot. The surgery scenes in this are tremendous and the tank battles are very well done.
Overall, there's a lot to like here visually and conceptually. I just wish there was a better plot to take it over the top. I would score this a 7.5/10 and strongly recommend it.
Glorious creative vision with too little narrative
benjaminskylerhill18 July 2022
Mad God is one of the most visually and audibly arresting films I have ever seen. To say that the technical craft on display is striking would be a criminal understatement. This is thoroughly the singular vision of a master artist, and I am so glad I got to experience it.
It is chock full of metaphorical depth related to man's relationship to both creation and destruction, and for those who are patient and are in love with the macabre, there will be so much for you to glean from it.
As for myself, I did glean a bit from the film's heavy messages, though the extremely sparse narrative left me wanting a LOT more.
We never stay with a character for longer than 20 minutes, and our journeys with them are always cut short right as they're getting interesting. The lack of any clear stakes, motivations, or goals makes it extremely hard to get invested in, and makes 83 minutes feel like two hours.
It's clear that Phil Tippett used the 30 years of production to really get his visual ideas to be made manifest in gorgeous glory, but I do so wish that he had spent more of that time writing instead.
It is chock full of metaphorical depth related to man's relationship to both creation and destruction, and for those who are patient and are in love with the macabre, there will be so much for you to glean from it.
As for myself, I did glean a bit from the film's heavy messages, though the extremely sparse narrative left me wanting a LOT more.
We never stay with a character for longer than 20 minutes, and our journeys with them are always cut short right as they're getting interesting. The lack of any clear stakes, motivations, or goals makes it extremely hard to get invested in, and makes 83 minutes feel like two hours.
It's clear that Phil Tippett used the 30 years of production to really get his visual ideas to be made manifest in gorgeous glory, but I do so wish that he had spent more of that time writing instead.
If Lovecraft and Giger had a child it would be a Tippett.
deloudelouvain22 June 2022
Well for once my wife and I are not agreeing about a movie. She gave it a four, I gave it a seven but since I write the reviews a seven it is. More than thirty years of work to create this mostly bizarre stop-motion movie. You gotta give it to Phil Tippett, he created something unique with a lot of patience. If I had to guess what Tippett likes to read I would say HP Lovecraft. If I had to guess what artist Tippett admires I would say HR Giger. If I had to guess what kind of music Tippett enjoyed listening to I would say Pink Floyd, especially The Wall. If I had to guess what kind of drugs Tippett takes, I would say I don't know but I want some. Mad Dog is weird, it's gross and grotesque, a combination of bio-mechanical and steampunk, it's apocalyptic and something you need to watch under influence especially if you like any of the things written above.
Studio Giblets...
Xstal7 December 2022
If animation cinema is your thing, and dystopian dynamics make you sing, here's a film that you should see, it will fill your heart with glee, a post-apocalyptic nightmare with a sting. You're not too sure what's going on most of the time, in this purgatory world where nothing's fine, but the creatures are amazing, the hellish landscapes quite hair razing (amongst other things), the whole experience is outrageous and sublime.
Some rather talented people have made a grotesquely engrossing animation that leaves a mark, or perhaps a scar, that will linger for some time after and compel you to introduce those you know.
Some rather talented people have made a grotesquely engrossing animation that leaves a mark, or perhaps a scar, that will linger for some time after and compel you to introduce those you know.
Seems harsh to rate this low, but even a film as artistically impressive as this needs a semblance of a coherent narrative
Condemned-Soul4 July 2022
'Mad God' is equally weird and demented; a mergence of the nightmarish and the nonsensical into one wildly ambitious ride. Basically it feels like a glimpse into the mind of a madman; into a place both violated and broken without reprieve and without hope.
This is what you get when the imagination is pushed into warped overdrive - a fully realised vision of a hellish dystopia. And all of it is gorgeously (grotesquely) brought to life by stop-motion animation and detailed sets.
It's hard to rate this as I would a film with a story because this is more of an experience: a vignette-like tour through various strange environments and witnessing its even stranger denizens doing all manner of strange things... Top marks for effort, but it might have worked better as a series of 10-minute shorts, since even at 80 minutes my attention began to waver with nothing coherent to latch on to.
6.5/10.
This is what you get when the imagination is pushed into warped overdrive - a fully realised vision of a hellish dystopia. And all of it is gorgeously (grotesquely) brought to life by stop-motion animation and detailed sets.
It's hard to rate this as I would a film with a story because this is more of an experience: a vignette-like tour through various strange environments and witnessing its even stranger denizens doing all manner of strange things... Top marks for effort, but it might have worked better as a series of 10-minute shorts, since even at 80 minutes my attention began to waver with nothing coherent to latch on to.
6.5/10.
Fantasia Fest Screening -
beetlejuice8200823 August 2021
The stop-motion animation in this movie is top notch. From the character design to the set pieces, the filmmakers put together a beautiful, eerie, post-apocalyptic world with an eye for texture and detail in order to build this world and make it a character in itself. The film has no dialogue, so it heavily relies on the creative sets and creature designs to speak for itself.
The entire film primarily follows the journey of the main character traveling through this industrial post-apocalyptic junkyard with a lot of grotesque creatures along the way, and as an audience member you need to be open to take this journey.
The film does move a bit slow, and the lack of dialogue might not be everyone's cup of tea', but it allows time for the movie to breathe and get immersed in the world it's trying to build.
It's gruesome, eerie, yet strangely beautiful, and kind of reminded me of an animated Mad Max.
If you love stop-motion animation, especially if it includes heavy elements of sci-fi - horror you'll want to check this out.
The entire film primarily follows the journey of the main character traveling through this industrial post-apocalyptic junkyard with a lot of grotesque creatures along the way, and as an audience member you need to be open to take this journey.
The film does move a bit slow, and the lack of dialogue might not be everyone's cup of tea', but it allows time for the movie to breathe and get immersed in the world it's trying to build.
It's gruesome, eerie, yet strangely beautiful, and kind of reminded me of an animated Mad Max.
If you love stop-motion animation, especially if it includes heavy elements of sci-fi - horror you'll want to check this out.
A Nightmare. As advertised.
littlenemo-littlenemo28 May 2022
This is a very well-made film, although extremely long for what it is, which is an art piece. If you plan to watch this don't expect anything to make sense because it doesn't. Visually, the movie is stunning to look at. One hour and twenty-seven minutes of man's cruelty to man is just too much for me personally to watch. I understood the message five minutes into this film. I admire Phil Tippets resolve to spend half his life making this art project, though it makes me wonder if the only joy he receives in life is the Pink Floyd music that inspired him to make this film.
Visually incredible, but hollow
AdrenalinDragon12 October 2021
No doubt a visual spectacle and impressive stop-motion affair from Phil Tippett, but Mad God has essentially zero plot or reason to care for anything that's going on. Some unknown guy wanders around a machinery place seeing weird stuff, and that's pretty much it. There's no dialogue at all. If visual mindscrew-ery stuff and style over substance is your cup of tea, then you might love it. As for me, I needed more than that.
5/10.
5/10.
One of Its Own Kind
Tweetienator12 January 2022
For quite some time I lost almost any belief that in today's movie industry are still some creative minds and souls working - too many eagerly awaited movies in the last five or ten year were serious disappointments. Then Mad Dog hit me out of nowhere and gave me back the hope that I still will get some excellent movie from time to time till the time is right to travel to my next incarnation. Mad Dog provides everything - if you love to travel into the domain of the absurd, the grotesque, the kafkaesk, something Dante and Lovecraft would love. A visual feast and a fine ride into a dark Alice's wonderland. To all those who complain about missing a story or plot - Mad Dog is like poetry, it just depends on the eye of the beholder, but I doubt that there is a need for such thing like a plot to orbit around to enjoy this trip. For sure, Mad God, won't win a Golden Globe or such medal, but got more vision and creativity than a whole seasons Oscar winners got. The connoisseur of the unusual will hold it dearly. Bravo!
I've seen nothing else like this. I'll say that much.
Hey_Sweden12 March 2024
Written & directed by Phil Tippett, a veteran movie special effects guy who's worked on franchises such as "Star Wars" and "Jurassic Park", this is a walk on a *truly* wild side. It's a stop-motion animated odyssey into a bizarre and freaky netherworld, as a character called "The Assassin" descends into the depths of Hell, clearly with an agenda in mind, as they work from a rapidly deteriorating map.
Even on his worst nights, Tim Burton probably didn't have nightmares quite like *this*. I'll say right now that this visually oriented picture is *not* for all tastes. Some people may feel that the "story" (such as it is) lets them down, with not much to engage them other than the grotesqueries on display. It's definitely an animation film for adults - it's dark, twisted, and very violent at times. It also tells this "story" through a succession of images rather than a conventional narrative. The viewers will notice that there's no real dialogue (as we understand it) to speak of.
This magnum opus for Tippett was *many* years in the making - he began it in 1987, and finally finished it in 2020. While I personally wouldn't call it a great film, it's so *interesting* and *provocative* to look at that it did hold my attention. That said, it's good that this has a relatively brief run time of just over 84 minutes.
I enjoyed it, and would recommend it to people looking for something way out of the ordinary.
Seven out of 10.
Even on his worst nights, Tim Burton probably didn't have nightmares quite like *this*. I'll say right now that this visually oriented picture is *not* for all tastes. Some people may feel that the "story" (such as it is) lets them down, with not much to engage them other than the grotesqueries on display. It's definitely an animation film for adults - it's dark, twisted, and very violent at times. It also tells this "story" through a succession of images rather than a conventional narrative. The viewers will notice that there's no real dialogue (as we understand it) to speak of.
This magnum opus for Tippett was *many* years in the making - he began it in 1987, and finally finished it in 2020. While I personally wouldn't call it a great film, it's so *interesting* and *provocative* to look at that it did hold my attention. That said, it's good that this has a relatively brief run time of just over 84 minutes.
I enjoyed it, and would recommend it to people looking for something way out of the ordinary.
Seven out of 10.
Rein in your expectations - it's more akin to a student project
tim_d320 June 2022
I bet a lot of people had immense expectations about this movie being a fantastical epic adventure akin to something like The Dark Crystal. Unfortunately, it is more akin to one of these graduate student projects during a celebration event or final year project. Highly abstract, sprinkled with symbolism and visual metaphors. Excess footage of ink, foam, and whatnot for the sake of it. It's like someone having too much footage and including it because they became too attached to it. Instead of sharp nice editing.
Don't get me wrong, there is, fortunately, a story being told - however if you are going into this movie blind - good luck figuring that story out and making sense of it! There is not a single dialogue spoken at all! It purely relies on visuals. That being said - there is consistency and a beginning and end. Which is good.
The good:
The bad:
I really wanted to like this movie and had high expectations. I gave it my full attention and puzzled together what I could. Instead, it ended up being a bittersweet experience that is mostly forgettable I'm afraid.
Don't get me wrong, there is, fortunately, a story being told - however if you are going into this movie blind - good luck figuring that story out and making sense of it! There is not a single dialogue spoken at all! It purely relies on visuals. That being said - there is consistency and a beginning and end. Which is good.
The good:
- The vibe and environments are good and creative.
- The movie is at its best when there is orderly progression and when one can follow along. That feeling of going on a coherent adventure.
- It has an old-school feel to it that reminds of the '80s and 90's
The bad:
- It has the feel and weight of a pretentious student project. Long, drawn-out scenes. It feels often like someone showcasing their student portfolio scenes.
- No dialogue spoken. In this case, it weakens the movie. Even Angel's Egg, 1985, had a bit of dialogue that added a ton.
- One of these movies where the story and symbolism takes itself too serious. Way too convoluted and abstract for what it should be. I reckon on paper it made more sense.
- Mad God is meant to be watched multiple times to get the full nuances and meanings it feels like. Even after reading the movie description to make sense of this creation, I still did not get it. I normally do not mind, but here I would have liked more background.
I really wanted to like this movie and had high expectations. I gave it my full attention and puzzled together what I could. Instead, it ended up being a bittersweet experience that is mostly forgettable I'm afraid.
Visually Interesting and Open to Interpretation
dcclark-9468718 August 2022
There's lots of things to love about Mad God. There's also plenty that will be off putting if you're averse to gore/filth.
It's hard to describe the movie. Post-apocalyptic would be an over simplification - what the movie portrays looks less like a society and more like a fever dream. You're not going to walk away from this movie with an understanding of the plot. Even the described plot line regarding the assassin... without that information in the plot description you likely wouldn't even know that the original protagonist was an assassin.
Even the concept of "world building" is interesting. By the end, you have no more understanding of the world, its layout, and the goals of those that inhabit it.
With all that said, the movie has an enormous amount of visual diversity. There's also lots of themes and motifs you can pick out from all the insanity. Some of them might even feel profound to you personally. There's also plenty of unsettling moments.
If you're ok with experimental films that don't necessarily have a point - Mad God is absolutely worth a watch. You could likely watch it a few times and pick out more of the message... but I'm certainly not going to. If you have any aversion to gore, need your movies to have a point, and expect some kind of payoff from the plot avoid this movie.
On a side note... there's almost no way to "spoil" this movie. A testament to how funky and weird it is. The journey of watching it is the destination.
It's hard to describe the movie. Post-apocalyptic would be an over simplification - what the movie portrays looks less like a society and more like a fever dream. You're not going to walk away from this movie with an understanding of the plot. Even the described plot line regarding the assassin... without that information in the plot description you likely wouldn't even know that the original protagonist was an assassin.
Even the concept of "world building" is interesting. By the end, you have no more understanding of the world, its layout, and the goals of those that inhabit it.
With all that said, the movie has an enormous amount of visual diversity. There's also lots of themes and motifs you can pick out from all the insanity. Some of them might even feel profound to you personally. There's also plenty of unsettling moments.
If you're ok with experimental films that don't necessarily have a point - Mad God is absolutely worth a watch. You could likely watch it a few times and pick out more of the message... but I'm certainly not going to. If you have any aversion to gore, need your movies to have a point, and expect some kind of payoff from the plot avoid this movie.
On a side note... there's almost no way to "spoil" this movie. A testament to how funky and weird it is. The journey of watching it is the destination.
Certainly visually impressive, and a trip into the bizarre, but nothing more
derangedxzombie24 June 2022
The film doesn't really have any story or logic (perhaps with a title like mad god this could be a little expected) it is incredibly abstract and random. Perhaps with the odd bit of symbolism open to the viewers interpretation.
More than anything this movie is a visual treat of bizarre/horror-esque sequences, don't watch it expecting any storyline. It's like a project it's creators made to see how far their imagination could go, to make something really trippy. The visuals are quite impressive, smooth and detailed, I can see why this took 3 decades. And I did watch it all despite there being no real story, out of intrigue and being a fan of horror movies. I was wondering what crazy creation I'd see next.
The movie made me think of 4 distinct things, Little Nightmares, H. G Geiger paintings, Tool music videos and Silent Hill.
I'd recommend it just so you can say you've seen one of the weirdest films made. (And one of the best stop motions). But with no story, some may quickly lose interest. I think this raw talent should be used in a proper movie with story like Tim Burton's stop motions. There's still very much a place for that.
More than anything this movie is a visual treat of bizarre/horror-esque sequences, don't watch it expecting any storyline. It's like a project it's creators made to see how far their imagination could go, to make something really trippy. The visuals are quite impressive, smooth and detailed, I can see why this took 3 decades. And I did watch it all despite there being no real story, out of intrigue and being a fan of horror movies. I was wondering what crazy creation I'd see next.
The movie made me think of 4 distinct things, Little Nightmares, H. G Geiger paintings, Tool music videos and Silent Hill.
I'd recommend it just so you can say you've seen one of the weirdest films made. (And one of the best stop motions). But with no story, some may quickly lose interest. I think this raw talent should be used in a proper movie with story like Tim Burton's stop motions. There's still very much a place for that.
Yuck. Irk. Ew. Again, please?
TheVictoriousV16 June 2022
You might not know Phil Tippett by name, but if you've watched science-fiction movies for the past 50 years, particularly those with effects courtesy of Industrial Light & Magic, you undoubtedly know of his contributions to cinema. From Roger Corman to George Lucas to Steven Spielberg, this man has done stop-motion and creature design for some of the absolute giants.
Ever since the production of Robocop 2 and Jurassic Park, there's another movie Tippett has been working on: a passion project that represents 30 years of toil that, in a sense, has been taking place "behind the scenes" of all these better-known productions. It spent a considerable amount of years on the shelf too, admittedly, but thanks to the magic of Kickstarter, the project has now seen the light of day -- as dark and dreary as it may be.
That film is Mad God, a seminally unsettling and transfixingly dreamlike journey into the depths of... I don't even know where. Combining stop-motion and puppetry (the stuff Tippett is best at) with a bit of live-action and seemingly some CGI during the scenes that were likely produced last, the movie is unrelenting in its barrage of deranged images and so feels longer than it is -- albeit not in a boring way, but rather in the sense that a mere 5 minutes of runtime will be so rich with new, disturbing sights and sounds that they seem like 20.
Indeed, these are some of the most memorable images of this entire movie year. No sequence is quite like the last. They recall the nightmare-inspired short films of David Firth -- with some splashes of SFX-heavy classics like Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal, et al. -- and also made me think of Vernon Chatman (of The Shivering Truth and XAVIER: Renegade Angel), whose works I often claim have a method to the madness, as the saying goes. More precisely, I propose that "Rarely has this much madness represented this much of a method".
Yes, as bonkers as this movie is in terms of tone and presentation, I often felt like I "understood" much of what I saw; like there were parallels, symbols, and distorted metaphors for the cruelties inherent to human society (as seems natural for a work of dystopian sci-fi horror). Some images bring to mind the "faceless", disposable nature of human lives in a world of industry and war, while a closing sequence -- inspired by 2001: A Space Odyssey -- indicates that this system will continue to be replicated so long as humans are replicated. Something like that, anyhow.
Even when I didn't really understand what I was seeing, I wanted to learn more. I wanted to explore this universe further; to see what other layers there might be and what other creatures might roam beneath the rubble or behind the 1984-esque monitors. I wanted to see just how much deeper into the bleak depths Phil Tippett's imagination could bring us. I mentioned before that each scene has enough content and visual imaginativeness to fill multiple. Yet, this feels like but a glimpse into the world of Mad God.
Between this and the new season of Love, Death & Robots, 2022 is shaping up to be a triumphant year for those who truly make our movies happen through their painstaking VFX work, knack for design, and whatever else. If you're easily upset by violence or disturbing imagery, you probably shouldn't watch this; the cruelty inflicted upon these puppets is more nauseating than most live-action gore I've seen. That being said, anyone who respects cinema and special effects should see it at least once, and those who have lost faith in the art form -- insisting that Hollywood, with its modern creative bankruptcy, represents the totality of film (while refusing to seek out wildly imaginative, impassioned pieces like this) -- should see it twice.
Long story short: I think it's fair to say this is the best movie Phil Tippett has directed since Starship Trooper 2. Log on to Shudder and search for it, you handsome devils. Bring a puke pail.
Ever since the production of Robocop 2 and Jurassic Park, there's another movie Tippett has been working on: a passion project that represents 30 years of toil that, in a sense, has been taking place "behind the scenes" of all these better-known productions. It spent a considerable amount of years on the shelf too, admittedly, but thanks to the magic of Kickstarter, the project has now seen the light of day -- as dark and dreary as it may be.
That film is Mad God, a seminally unsettling and transfixingly dreamlike journey into the depths of... I don't even know where. Combining stop-motion and puppetry (the stuff Tippett is best at) with a bit of live-action and seemingly some CGI during the scenes that were likely produced last, the movie is unrelenting in its barrage of deranged images and so feels longer than it is -- albeit not in a boring way, but rather in the sense that a mere 5 minutes of runtime will be so rich with new, disturbing sights and sounds that they seem like 20.
Indeed, these are some of the most memorable images of this entire movie year. No sequence is quite like the last. They recall the nightmare-inspired short films of David Firth -- with some splashes of SFX-heavy classics like Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal, et al. -- and also made me think of Vernon Chatman (of The Shivering Truth and XAVIER: Renegade Angel), whose works I often claim have a method to the madness, as the saying goes. More precisely, I propose that "Rarely has this much madness represented this much of a method".
Yes, as bonkers as this movie is in terms of tone and presentation, I often felt like I "understood" much of what I saw; like there were parallels, symbols, and distorted metaphors for the cruelties inherent to human society (as seems natural for a work of dystopian sci-fi horror). Some images bring to mind the "faceless", disposable nature of human lives in a world of industry and war, while a closing sequence -- inspired by 2001: A Space Odyssey -- indicates that this system will continue to be replicated so long as humans are replicated. Something like that, anyhow.
Even when I didn't really understand what I was seeing, I wanted to learn more. I wanted to explore this universe further; to see what other layers there might be and what other creatures might roam beneath the rubble or behind the 1984-esque monitors. I wanted to see just how much deeper into the bleak depths Phil Tippett's imagination could bring us. I mentioned before that each scene has enough content and visual imaginativeness to fill multiple. Yet, this feels like but a glimpse into the world of Mad God.
Between this and the new season of Love, Death & Robots, 2022 is shaping up to be a triumphant year for those who truly make our movies happen through their painstaking VFX work, knack for design, and whatever else. If you're easily upset by violence or disturbing imagery, you probably shouldn't watch this; the cruelty inflicted upon these puppets is more nauseating than most live-action gore I've seen. That being said, anyone who respects cinema and special effects should see it at least once, and those who have lost faith in the art form -- insisting that Hollywood, with its modern creative bankruptcy, represents the totality of film (while refusing to seek out wildly imaginative, impassioned pieces like this) -- should see it twice.
Long story short: I think it's fair to say this is the best movie Phil Tippett has directed since Starship Trooper 2. Log on to Shudder and search for it, you handsome devils. Bring a puke pail.
Visually stunning and one of a kind
stylss27 June 2022
Visually stunning, creepy, weird, wet, grotesque, nightmarish, bleak, creative, hellish, bizarre, hollow, unsettling, and one of a kind.
Lots of creepy crawlies, squishy monsters, screaming babies, ticking clocks, and blood splattering. The sound design and world building is superb but the lack of dialog makes it difficult to follow any notion of a plot. Glad I watched it but it would be difficult to rewatch.
**watched at Hollywood Theatre**
Lots of creepy crawlies, squishy monsters, screaming babies, ticking clocks, and blood splattering. The sound design and world building is superb but the lack of dialog makes it difficult to follow any notion of a plot. Glad I watched it but it would be difficult to rewatch.
**watched at Hollywood Theatre**
Stylish alien world overloads visually at the expense of good story.
tycannah17 June 2022
Mad God is an impressive art-style animation but sadly this does not make it a good film.. Whilst the alien world that is created is detailed and lovingly depicted I have the impression that this was no more than an attempt by the director to depict a psychedelic nightmare. It can be difficult and tiring to follow the film as it lacks any dialogue and requires your continuous visual attention to follow the story. In the end it is difficult to relate or care for anything in this film as it is mired in a confusing jumble of bizarre alien scenes.
Great visuals but
strizbiz-9942926 June 2022
The visual were definitely interesting and it's obvious a lot of work went into it, but the overall issue is that there's no story being told to warrant it being as long as it is, or at least I didn't get what was being told, or maybe because there was no dialogue I found myself just getting bored and almost falling asleep. I could see this movie being shown on tv screens in the background of a grungy NY rock club in the 90s where people aren't really paying attention to the dialogue. I could see it working to music with lyrics, that actually told a story from song to song, kinda like Pink Floyd did with some of the animated scenes in The Wall. I guess some people will love it, I appreciate the overall artistry that went into it but just found it lacking as far as pulling me in and holding my attention for the duration.
The magnum opus of a visual effects master.
jacobjetta7 October 2021
Phil Tippett is a Visual Effects creator first, and a Director second. It's important to watch this movie with his value system in mind. The story is not cohesive because often, it is a vehicle to deliver the viewer to different setpieces. And every setpiece is beautiful and unique. There's a forlorn feeling only stop motion can deliver, watching a physical setpiece that took dozens of hours of sculpting, texturing, painting, and lighting, appear onscreen for less than half a minute. Setpieces in this movie cycle so quickly that it left the impression of a much longer film. There's little question why this film took thirty years to complete.
Then there's the huge smattering of visual techniques. The movie is filled with abstractions on the manipulation of time, which feel like Phil's salute to the medium. This movie has stop motion, shadow puppet theater, live action, real-time miniature explosives, and a refreshingly conservative use of CGI.
Every scene is so uniquely grotesque that the revulsion is replaced with a respect for the beauty of the individual pieces and a sense of wonder at his execution of the craft. It's a film I'll show to any fan of animation and sculpture, and it's popularity has nowhere to go but up.
Then there's the huge smattering of visual techniques. The movie is filled with abstractions on the manipulation of time, which feel like Phil's salute to the medium. This movie has stop motion, shadow puppet theater, live action, real-time miniature explosives, and a refreshingly conservative use of CGI.
Every scene is so uniquely grotesque that the revulsion is replaced with a respect for the beauty of the individual pieces and a sense of wonder at his execution of the craft. It's a film I'll show to any fan of animation and sculpture, and it's popularity has nowhere to go but up.
Thought provoking and amazing visuals, BYO story
williambertram19 July 2022
First, the visuals. This movie is overflowing with the kind of weird, psychedelic visuals I want to see more of. Watching it reminded me of the first time I watched Ralph Bakshi's Wizards.
Next, the story, or lack thereof. Mad God presents you with a stream of conscience, and asks you to make of it what you will. Very similar to movies like Eraserhead. Obviously, this will totally alienate many viewers who simply don't enjoy this type of presentation. Others will love it, especially at 4:20.
Overall, I LOVE the visuals, and I'd love to see some classic sci-fi and fantasy fiction done in this style. Maybe Jack Vance's The Dying Earth, Conan, or Neal Asher's Polity series. It would have worked better for me, personally, with a plot. I get what they were trying to do, but it feels a little like eating cheese puffs. You just nomnomnom and can't get enough of the cheesy deliciousness, but it has literally no substance, and leaves you feeling empty and vaguely depressed. Sure, it's very easy to see this creation as a one-to-one metaphor for the hellish dystopia humans have created on earth, but my idea of fun isn't being made vaguely uneasy about that inescapable reality.
I give Mad God 10/10 for the visual and audio presentation, and 4/10 for the storytelling. I'll average it out to 7/10 overall.
Next, the story, or lack thereof. Mad God presents you with a stream of conscience, and asks you to make of it what you will. Very similar to movies like Eraserhead. Obviously, this will totally alienate many viewers who simply don't enjoy this type of presentation. Others will love it, especially at 4:20.
Overall, I LOVE the visuals, and I'd love to see some classic sci-fi and fantasy fiction done in this style. Maybe Jack Vance's The Dying Earth, Conan, or Neal Asher's Polity series. It would have worked better for me, personally, with a plot. I get what they were trying to do, but it feels a little like eating cheese puffs. You just nomnomnom and can't get enough of the cheesy deliciousness, but it has literally no substance, and leaves you feeling empty and vaguely depressed. Sure, it's very easy to see this creation as a one-to-one metaphor for the hellish dystopia humans have created on earth, but my idea of fun isn't being made vaguely uneasy about that inescapable reality.
I give Mad God 10/10 for the visual and audio presentation, and 4/10 for the storytelling. I'll average it out to 7/10 overall.
Nothing happens
dedlift-3898017 February 2022
Maybe worth one viewing
ebeckstr-125 June 2023
Gruesome, gory, grim, Grimm, grimy, dark, bleak, apocalyptic, merciless. If Seven and Eraserhead had a mutated baby which was force-fed blood, excrement, and steroids, which then had a nightmare that was filmed and we were forced to watch it, Mad God would be it. I'm glad to have seen this, I guess, legendary flick, but it's not a movie I would watch twice.
Gruesome, gory, grim, Grimm, grimy, dark, bleak, apocalyptic, merciless. If Seven and Eraserhead had a mutated baby which was force-fed blood, excrement, and steroids, which then had a nightmare that was filmed and we were forced to watch it, Mad God would be it. I'm glad to have seen this, I guess, legendary flick, but it's not a movie I would watch twice.
Gruesome, gory, grim, Grimm, grimy, dark, bleak, apocalyptic, merciless. If Seven and Eraserhead had a mutated baby which was force-fed blood, excrement, and steroids, which then had a nightmare that was filmed and we were forced to watch it, Mad God would be it. I'm glad to have seen this, I guess, legendary flick, but it's not a movie I would watch twice.
some feelings
j_movie26 August 2021
Utterly bizarre....
cyguration17 June 2022
This is not a film for the feint of heart, the light of mind, or the easily queasy. This film is as grotesque as the trailer(s) depict.
It's an amalgamation of lots of depraved symbolism and concepts of idolatry combined into a loosely connected story about an assassin (though, I would probably think of him more as a mercenary) attempting to carry out a relatively righteous mission (heavy emphasis on "relatively").
It's a disheartening, disgusting film, to say the least. More-so because of the way it depicts what a living hell would be like in the worst ways imaginable.
The film takes no short cuts in dissecting and outlining what the worst possible outcome could be for those unfortunate enough to be trapped in said hellscape, and it's every bit as horrifying as your imagination may (or may not) be able to conjure up.
It's also a hard film to rate -- amidst the mortifying displays of disturbing viscera, there's an obvious tale here, if not a blatant warning message in some sense.
Though I get the impression that the people who should be watching a film like this to get the wake up call, aren't going to be the people who are drawn to this film, so it's likely only going to be preaching to the choir.
Even still, it's a tour de force in stop-motion animation. There isn't another stop-motion project out there that really compares in terms of depth and scope. I wasn't the biggest fan of the minor live-action integration in some segments, but for the most part it all worked quite well.
But don't go into this thinking there are rainbows and lily-pads about. A fair bit of warning: all ye who enter, abandon all hope.
It's an amalgamation of lots of depraved symbolism and concepts of idolatry combined into a loosely connected story about an assassin (though, I would probably think of him more as a mercenary) attempting to carry out a relatively righteous mission (heavy emphasis on "relatively").
It's a disheartening, disgusting film, to say the least. More-so because of the way it depicts what a living hell would be like in the worst ways imaginable.
The film takes no short cuts in dissecting and outlining what the worst possible outcome could be for those unfortunate enough to be trapped in said hellscape, and it's every bit as horrifying as your imagination may (or may not) be able to conjure up.
It's also a hard film to rate -- amidst the mortifying displays of disturbing viscera, there's an obvious tale here, if not a blatant warning message in some sense.
Though I get the impression that the people who should be watching a film like this to get the wake up call, aren't going to be the people who are drawn to this film, so it's likely only going to be preaching to the choir.
Even still, it's a tour de force in stop-motion animation. There isn't another stop-motion project out there that really compares in terms of depth and scope. I wasn't the biggest fan of the minor live-action integration in some segments, but for the most part it all worked quite well.
But don't go into this thinking there are rainbows and lily-pads about. A fair bit of warning: all ye who enter, abandon all hope.
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