4. FAMILY MATTERS: It takes a household to boost this village.
Morgiana
As a result of I’m nothing if not a fan of Gothic extra, I can by no means appear to close up about Morgiana. Juraj Herz’s florid, Freudian masterpiece of ’70s Czech New Wave cinema blends notes of Picnic at Hanging Rock‘s eerie femininity and Valerie and Her Week of Wonders‘ surreal opulence. The plot is surprisingly easy: One sister, Viki, despises the opposite, Klara, as a result of Klara is good and kinda vapid however tremendous fairly. Klara additionally cops a much bigger inheritance than Viki after their father’s demise. Viki, with the Siamese cat Morgiana slung over her shoulder, units out to poison Klara. Iva Janžurová stars as not one however each hypnotic main characters within the movie fatale, and she or he by some means pulls all of this off whereas sporting sufficient make-up to make a clown blush.
The movie is a haunted instance of Czech New Wave cinema’s calling playing cards: It is bizarre and psychedelic and witchy and watery, with wide-angle kitty POVs and stylistic extravagance. However Herz additionally accomplishes one thing uncommon right here. Morgiana is Loie Fuller’s Serpentine Dance; it is a floral tea laced with LSD. The movie’s ultra-simple plot is propped up by frankly bonkers artwork noveau manufacturing design and costuming, enveloping the viewer in Gray Gardens-level female isolation and thriller. By conserving the story easy, all of it turns into archetypal, a kind of dream state. Fantasy is feasible right here, and typically fantasy is darkish and freaky. Simply ask the Brothers Grimm.
The Stranger is taking part in Scarecrow Video’s Psychotronic Problem all month lengthy! Each October, Scarecrow places collectively an inventory of cinematic themes and invitations of us to observe alongside and watch a horror, sci-fi, or fantasy flick that meets the factors. This yr, Stranger staffers are becoming a member of the enjoyable and we’re going to share our each day suggestions right here on Slog! Learn extra about Scarecrow’s 2024 problem—and get the watch record—right here. And you’ll observe our each day suggestions right here! 💀