MovieChat Forums > The Dark Backward (1993) Discussion > Had sooo much potential but...

Had sooo much potential but...


God, I had this same experience as Master Shake 420!! Had to tell ya about it. I hadn't seen it in about 7 years and couldn't remember how it ended. (I see why now) I'd been thinking about it lately and decided to find it. I ordered it from amazon for like 2 bucks. I was sooo excited. Got my roomies together to watch this amazing "indie gem" that they'd never heard of -- with popcorn and everything... and my god. did it go from being super arty, interesting, and fun to a complete bore. It was torturous just making it to the end without falling asleep while trying to remain positive and convince my friends that I really don't have horrible taste in movies really I don't-- Well, it certainly had potential. What can you do?

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I just turned this movie off. Yes, it had great potential...in production design, acting (Judd Nelson is actually superb!) and atmosphere. It started off intriguing but grew utterly unwatchable. I mean excruciating!

I don't mean to impose, but I am the ocean.

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i love it. i think its one of the finest films ever made. Bill Paxton STEALS the show! his greatest work EVER.

the end was perfectly fitting.


oh, and since when has been molesting and stealing from dead bodies been "Art." or maybe youre reffering to the 2-ton-orgy?

damn, what a fine movie!

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I'm starting to think I'm the only person on the planet who finds this movie hilarious.

Is it just me, or has use of the word "pretentious" gone up 150% in the last 5 years?

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I liked it alot, the look was great and the vibe was great the entire movie.

Don't ever call me a kubrick hater, or I will have my droogs beat you to death.

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Love it or hate it, it's a movie that's utterly unforgettable. I generally adore weird movies, but when I first saw it 15 years ago, it seemed like it was trying so hard to be culty that it failed. Earlier this week, I got the exact same impression from SOUTHLAND TALES, so I decided to give THE DARK BACKWARD another look. I still think it tries too hard to be weird for the sake of being weird, but on second viewing, I think that's one of the film's biggest strengths. And this time around, I liked it... so according to a poster in another thread on this board, I must deserve to die...


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It all has to do with who's watching it with you. I bet if you watched it with a group of people who liked the film, you'd also enjoy it... Trust me. I love the film and made my sons sit through it. They were squirming, yawning, saying it was boring - really ruined it for me.

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I can only hope your sons are 5 and 7 to make my mental image complete. Possibly twin 8 yr olds and a 10 yr old. Yep that's it. On a brand new HD 42in TV, in a run down tenement, in squalor, wearing a J Waters type suit with a skinny tie, drinking Hamms beer.

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