Blonde: A Harrowing And Hypnotic Horror Film
Blonde boldly reimagines the life of one of Hollywood's most enduring icons, Marilyn Monroe. From her volatile childhood as Norma Jeane, through her rise to stardom and romantic entanglements, Blonde blurs the lines of fact and fiction to explore the widening split between her public and private selves. Starring Ana de Armas as Marilyn Monroe, Adrien Brody, Bobby Cannavale, Xavier Samuel, and Julianne Nicholson.
Andrew Dominik’s latest is a hazy, feverish, surreal nightmare that explores the idea of Marilyn Monroe, rather than the actual figure. It’s a beautiful shot horror show about the dark side of fame, one that’s sprawling, restless, and fixated with tragedy, which can make for a harrowing watch — especially if you’re a fan of Monroe. It’s a bit long-winded, drawn out, and (at times) tedious, but the journey is made hypnotic and mesmerizing by Ana de Armas’ bare-it-all performance, Chayse Irivn’s lush cinematography, and Nick Cave and Warren Ellis’ Badalamenti-esque score. When these things are carefully combined, they create an intoxicating atmosphere that pretty satisfyingly swivels between dreamy and dreary.
Blonde’s heavy flirtations with fiction and dark extremities might turn off viewers or make them want to avert their eyes, but the technical artistry and Armas’ performative vigor are generally enough to keep you on board. It’s not entirely justified in its length, with some of the journey being hard to stomach, but it makes for an interesting watch because it chooses to take an approach that’s outside the norm. We found its exploration of the dual personas (Marilyn/Norma Jean) pretty captivating and terrifying to watch, but the loose, fragmented structure could have benefited from a bit more focus and fine-tuning. Still, a solid effort in our books that just needs to be viewed with the proper mindset and expectation.
If you want a traditional biopic that paints a flattering portrait of the beloved icon, you’re bound to be upset by Dominik’s lurid Hollywood hellscape. But if you’re looking for an atmospheric and moody horror flick, tis the season! The surrealist streaks and dreamlike feel evoke the work of David Lynch, particularly Twin Peaks and Mulholland Drive. Honestly, taking a massive pop icon that everyone associates with glitz and glamor and exposing a dark underbelly that perverts that initial assumption is super Lynchian. What can we say, we’re pretty into it; you might not be so lucky.
Recommendation: If you’re looking for a true-to-life biopic, you should look elsewhere. This “biopic” leans more into the atmospheric horror of David Lynch than it does the traditional. If you want a dreamy horror film about the dark side of fame, this should hit the spot.
What do you think? We want to know. Share your thoughts and feelings in the comments section below, and as always, remember to viddy well!