Simply scrolling through reviews will make it clear that this is a polarising film, one that poses a risk to anyone unsure about watching. My advice: take the plunge.
Claire Denis is a director who's always proven herself a genius with the critics, but unlike other art filmmakers, has had little luck hitting it off with casual moviegoers. One thing worth considering before watching is that High Life is never one thing. It waltzes the line between a deeply psychological cosmic horror and an erotic, abstract poem. Think Lovecraft meets Coleridge.
Robert Pattinson is worth the short runtime also, he gives a flawless performance and conceals his character in mystery that were thankfully never satisfied away from. High Life isn't supposed to satisfy the audience as much as guide them through a strange and uncomfortable episode of madness and psychological terror in deep space.
I'd actually go further to admit this is, in my opinion, the only true and great piece of cosmic horror to grace cinema screens in twenty years. A love of Soviet filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky is also prevalent throughout, who often used long takes to the extent of claiming filmmaking to be "sculpting in time". With this interpretation of filmmaking, High Life becomes a masterpiece. Critical viewers, it's a definite film to add to your watch list. Casual viewe's, if you've made it this far reading my review then give it a watch, it's short and even if you don't like it, I can guarantee it'll teach you a little about human nature as all great films do. Thank you!
Claire Denis is a director who's always proven herself a genius with the critics, but unlike other art filmmakers, has had little luck hitting it off with casual moviegoers. One thing worth considering before watching is that High Life is never one thing. It waltzes the line between a deeply psychological cosmic horror and an erotic, abstract poem. Think Lovecraft meets Coleridge.
Robert Pattinson is worth the short runtime also, he gives a flawless performance and conceals his character in mystery that were thankfully never satisfied away from. High Life isn't supposed to satisfy the audience as much as guide them through a strange and uncomfortable episode of madness and psychological terror in deep space.
I'd actually go further to admit this is, in my opinion, the only true and great piece of cosmic horror to grace cinema screens in twenty years. A love of Soviet filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky is also prevalent throughout, who often used long takes to the extent of claiming filmmaking to be "sculpting in time". With this interpretation of filmmaking, High Life becomes a masterpiece. Critical viewers, it's a definite film to add to your watch list. Casual viewe's, if you've made it this far reading my review then give it a watch, it's short and even if you don't like it, I can guarantee it'll teach you a little about human nature as all great films do. Thank you!