Some films, regardless of technical merit, will have a way of searing itself into your memory through unabashed weirdness or an undeniable uniqueness that causes the film to stand out very clearly from the pack. Mandy has both of these things in spades, but aside from being an immediately recognizable horror/fantasy thrill, it’s also a beautiful and engaging drug fueled journey.
Mandy’s visual style is memorable from it’s first shot to it’s last and every second in between. There’s something so engaging about the films hazy, druggy, and wildly colorful cinematic palette. But beyond its wealth of color the film is also lusciously shot, giving us long and extended shots of gorgeous natural environments. Director Panos Cosmatos really gives these scenes a lot of room to exist and lull the viewer into a relaxed, otherworldly state before shattering that feeling as the film progresses to it’s explosive finally.
The story of Mandy is certainly a strange one, but the films strangeness melds well with the vibe the cinematography sets and gives the movie a unified feel. Mandy has the tone of a dark, distant fairytale. Almost like a folktale written in a parallel universe, it’s odd but consistently intriguing. The film has a carefully paced beginning that I could see testing less patient viewers, though I think others will be sucked too far in by the films color and cinematography to ever lose interest. That being said Mandy builds to an electrifying climax with an incredibly satisfying payoff. The pace certainly goes from zero to sixty at the midway point and only lays on the gas for the remaining runtime. A lot of this is fueled by a captivatingly tense and energetic performance form Nicolas Cage. Whether he’s good or bad he’s always a blast to watch and I’m happy to report that Cage is wonderful in the lead roll. Cosmatos does well to play into the strength of Cage as an actor and knows exactly when and how to harness the seasoned actor’s versatility. They work well together to ensure the pace of the film's final sequences leave you thoroughly gratified.
Without a doubt Mandy is an unforgettable film. I can’t promise that it will appeal to everybody and I can definitely see how it’s absurdness can be off putting. But for the right people, the films well executed blend of psychedelic bizarreness and surreal terror will be a constant joy to experience. Filled with natural oddness and a ton of incredibly committed performances, Mandy was some of the most fun I’ve had with a film in 2018.