Set in 1960's London, Edwin Abonek's The Monster of London City is a horror mystery film examing the fine line which can be walked between art and reality. While a succesful adaption about Jack the Ripper rocks London's box office, a new series of Jack the Ripper murders terrorize the city. Richard Sand, the actor responsible for the powerful central performance as Jack the Ripper, is a method actor, drawing suspicion from the lead detective and other parties. With a serviceable story and stellar cinematography and direction, The Monster of London City is a unique film that subtlely raises a lot of interesting questions about the boundaries between artistic expression and public safety. The film explores an intense method actor consumed by his performance, who himself begins to feel the guilt of these terrible murders hanging over his head. While Richard Sand is the main suspect, the director of the film also goes through conflict with ticket sales souring as more blood is shed. While the director character doesn't have any problems with making money off of misfortune, it's an interesting antedote to this mystery thriller. The narrative itself keeps the viewer guessing about the identity of the killer, intentionally trying to throw the viewer off the scent. Unfortunately the finale does not live up to the previous 70 minutes, with a reveal that never earns its merit early in the story. The Monster of London City features beautiful cinematography, from some really impressive long takes to immersive lighting and composition, particuarly during the murder sequences. The Monster of London City is nothing special from a mystery perspective, but the direction and thematic strings it pulls make it worth your time.
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AuthorLove of all things cinema brought me here. Archives
June 2023
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