MovieChat Forums > Legend (1986) Discussion > There's something subliminally disturbin...

There's something subliminally disturbing about this movie

posted 13 years ago by janhommer
22 replies | jump to latest

Not so much because of the "darkness" of the "dark" scenes; the "dark" scenes are merely well made (Tim Curry and all...) and that's all very fine; but the "idyllic" scenes in particular have got something rather disturbing going on beneath the surface and I can't even explain what it is; I guess it's got something to do with the obvious artificialness of the settings combined with this particular music... To me personally this is not at all a "comfort film" (I refer to someone else's topic here) and considering it's made by the same director who did "Alien" and "Blade Runner" that thought doesn't even seem so far-fetched to me...

[–] FollicleMan 12 years ago

Maybe the whole thing is Deckard's dream?

[–] Trent-Easton 12 years ago

Excellent post, I feel exactly the same way. Its certainly something diffuse, hard to grasp, very dark in the atmosphere even in the light and sunny-scenes, I agree. Its hard to pin-point, but its there. I felt it the first time I watched this flick, something eerie. Probably as you said, its got something to do with the artificial environment.

[–] Drenyelle 11 years ago

Have you tried watching the director's cut with Goldsmith's score? Bet you feel differently about the tone of the film. The Tangerine Dream score does have a haunting quality about it.

[–] janhommer 11 years ago

I AM referring to the Goldsmith version (don't even know the Tangerine Dream one); maybe it's just me -but apparantly not; it seems like some people share this view- but it's the "light" scenes in particular that are causing a particular, kinda weird feeling in me I can't even put in words; I guess it's this atmosphere, but what about it? I can't even explain;
well, don't anyone get me wrong, I LOVE this movie (in a WAY one could say that it's SO cheesy it's good...); I find it fascinating in a disturbing way (or disturbing in a fascinating way, however you wanna put it...); I think the point is that particularly the "light" scenes picture a kind of "wellness" and "harmony" that deep inside us we all know doesn't actually exist like THAT and this actual KNOWING (although it's kinda hidden) is what makes the movie disturbing yet fascinating (or fascinating yet disturbing) to me and the Goldsmith music does it's part in that...

[–] Drenyelle 11 years ago

It's interesting that you feel that way. There are moments when I feel an ominous vibe; the clock scene, for example, but the forest scenes overall seem very peaceful and beautiful to me. Was your first viewing as a child or an adult?

[–] janhommer 11 years ago

Adult. I was like 21 or so; which doesn't mean that I wouldn't have found it even more disturbing, even frightening, had my first viewing been as a child...

[–] snagletooth 11 years ago

It's mostly shot on soundstages even though quite a bit of it is 'outside', and the forests loom over everything (sequoia forests supposedly inspired the look a bit). A closed-in, claustrophobic feeling. A bit like Blade Runner in that way for me.

[–] joe_538 11 years ago

I think you may have hit the nail on the head. It does seem claustrophobic compared to other fantasy films, where characters are always traveling sprawling landscapes.

[–] janhommer 9 years ago

Yep, I think that's it, thanks! If you see a landscape in "Lord of the Rings", it makes you think of peacefulness and /or freedom (not to mention really wanting to visit New Zealand for once) because they're real; doesn't work that way in "Legend", because the landscapes are all fake and one can tell they're fake, so, without even consciously thinking about that, the audience can tell the movie's been shot in a studio and that makes this weird yet fasincating effect of something -a forest or field or other kind of landscape- we're used to experiencing as something "wide" and "open" that could "give" us "freedom" and lead to far away places, feeling strangely CLAUSTROPHOBIC instead! I like to think Scott is very conciously and purposefully using this effect to create this sumbliminally uncomfortable atmosphere, at least I personally LOVE it in a "weird" way...

[–] TeenGangDeb 9 years ago

It's like Wizard of Oz in that way; you know it's not really outside.

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[–] spudjustice 11 years ago

I know what you mean. It is full of tension. It feels...uncomfortable.

Nostalgia is just not what it used to be.

[–] KCurmudgeon 11 years ago

I'll tell you what's disturbing about this film. Couldn't Jack find some pants somewhere? Anywhere? The little mail dress is just plain creepy.

[–] janhommer 11 years ago

Well, yeah, that too...

[–] fiatlux-1 11 years ago

I agree with the OP. I felt that from the moment I first saw this film, that there was a dark undercurrent of menace or 'danger' even in the good scenes...even under the surface.
The only scene I felt was truly peaceful was the one where Lily & Jack first see the unicorns rushing towards them. It was a magical scene, it was so happy and looked SO REALISTIC!

Its interesting that others noticed this too, I thought I was the only one that felt the unease even in the cheerful scenes.

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[–] KitchenKnives 11 years ago

I thought it was intentional. The whole of the beginning is nothing but a set up for things going wrong. As soon as you first see Lili it's obvious the movie is heading down that curiosity-leads-to-trouble Pandora's box/Garden of Eden route.

[–] TheSolarSailor 11 years ago

I think you are feeling the sense of foreboding that Ridley Scott masterfully wove into the undercurrent of the film. All is well during those early scene, but you know something is off. Something sinister is lurking unseen, yet close enough for us to feel its presence.

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[–] Bree_33 10 years ago

There's something subliminally disturbing about this movie

I don't know about that. Maybe the film lacks any likable characters. Loved it when I was a child and still love it now. To me Legend is a very emotional and visually beautiful experience.

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