Before The Night Is Over (2020) **1/2
Before The Night Is Over (2020) is half of a really great film. It has a lot of intriguing elements going for it—a male bordello, murder, the occult, the devil. It doesn't all quite gel, but that doesn't mean that there isn't anything to appreciate about BTNIO. The cinematography is often quite good but there were a few inconsistencies in the color grading (sometimes within the same scene), where you could tell shots were filmed on different days and in different lighting. While the photography of some of the sex scenes is well done—and, yes, the film is set in a brothel, so sex scenes are expected—they start to wear thin for such a short film (just shy of 80 minutes). I think part of the reason for that is that they feel a bit forced, playing as humorous (sometimes intentionally), rather than erotic.
The lack of gore also hurts an exploitation film such as this—a few jaw-dropping scenes of violence with some well-executed makeup f/x would do much to up the shock factor and provide some real scares. Director Richard Griffin is clearly influenced by Dario Argento, Suspiria (1977) (review), and gialli—the ending of BTNIO even has a nod to the ending of Argento's Inferno (1980). But the lack of strong kills and true suspense leaves one wanting.
BTNIO works best in its dream-like dialogue-free moments. Had the film dipped more into the surreal and psychedelic, it might have been a stronger one—a different experience, of course, but a more satisfying one for an oddball film buff such as myself, who appreciates a good mindfuck. That said, the cast is decent. I just don't think everyone works well in the roles they were given. Victoria Paradis is a standout as the menacing madam Ms. Olivia, providing a welcome level of sinister gravitas, but I think Griffin would have done well to have her dial back her leering a touch. Add inconsistent southern accents that stick out like a sore thumb to the mix and you ask yourself why the southern setting was necessary at all.
While I gave the other Griffin film that I've seen, Code Name: Dynastud (2018) (review), a higher star rating, BTNIO is a better film. It's just that it's not better executed. The reason for that is that while CN:D was all camp, BTNIO plays as mostly serious, so that when juvenile humor is thrown in it causes a tonal imbalance. Overall I appreciate and commend the effort of a film like this, made on such a low budget. In my review for Code Name: Dynastud I wrote that "I applaud the effort more than the actual output but I think with some finesse that Scorpio could make something great and still retain their identity." This is a step in that direction but it's still not quite there. I hope that Richard Griffin has it in him to get there and deliver something truly special. I think he can if focuses more on one film being a standout rather than cranking out several films a year. But if that's not his plan and he just wants to make indie films like this one, that's fine too. They fill a niche and they're fun.
The lack of gore also hurts an exploitation film such as this—a few jaw-dropping scenes of violence with some well-executed makeup f/x would do much to up the shock factor and provide some real scares. Director Richard Griffin is clearly influenced by Dario Argento, Suspiria (1977) (review), and gialli—the ending of BTNIO even has a nod to the ending of Argento's Inferno (1980). But the lack of strong kills and true suspense leaves one wanting.
BTNIO works best in its dream-like dialogue-free moments. Had the film dipped more into the surreal and psychedelic, it might have been a stronger one—a different experience, of course, but a more satisfying one for an oddball film buff such as myself, who appreciates a good mindfuck. That said, the cast is decent. I just don't think everyone works well in the roles they were given. Victoria Paradis is a standout as the menacing madam Ms. Olivia, providing a welcome level of sinister gravitas, but I think Griffin would have done well to have her dial back her leering a touch. Add inconsistent southern accents that stick out like a sore thumb to the mix and you ask yourself why the southern setting was necessary at all.
While I gave the other Griffin film that I've seen, Code Name: Dynastud (2018) (review), a higher star rating, BTNIO is a better film. It's just that it's not better executed. The reason for that is that while CN:D was all camp, BTNIO plays as mostly serious, so that when juvenile humor is thrown in it causes a tonal imbalance. Overall I appreciate and commend the effort of a film like this, made on such a low budget. In my review for Code Name: Dynastud I wrote that "I applaud the effort more than the actual output but I think with some finesse that Scorpio could make something great and still retain their identity." This is a step in that direction but it's still not quite there. I hope that Richard Griffin has it in him to get there and deliver something truly special. I think he can if focuses more on one film being a standout rather than cranking out several films a year. But if that's not his plan and he just wants to make indie films like this one, that's fine too. They fill a niche and they're fun.
Comments
Post a Comment