Monday, June 17, 2019

Movie review - "Gothic" (1986) **1/2

This Ken Russell film was box office disappointment but a hit on video, giving his career a second wind. It's got a sexy concept - the famous holiday spent with Percy and Mary Shelley, and Byron - plus some way out visuals, good moments and a strong cast.

I wasn't wild about it though. I think I prefer a stronger storyline - this felt like a couple of people running around a house where a lot of weird shit was happening.  The boldness and weirdness is great - but a bit more character work and a bit more of a story would've been good.

Gabriel Byrne is ideal as Byron and Julian Sands plays a Ken Russell Shelley very well. I loved seeing a young Tim Spall - his character really suffers, lots of make up jobs! Natasha Richardson is solid as Mary - less fun, but then she's the one sensible character in the film.

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