All of Jean Rollin's films that I have seen bring this dream-like atmosphere to the table but none stand out quite like The Night of the Hunted's intoxicating atmosphere. Jean Rollin's The Night of the Hunted is essentially a horrific meditation on memory and the utter isolation and loneliness which one would encounter without it. Though the plot isn't particularly necessary, the film centers around a group of individuals, who due to accidental radiation exposure, are slowly losing all of their brain cells. They are quarantined in a ominous building referred to as "the Black Tower". Consisting of a synth score reminiscent of John Carpenter, The Night of the Hunted builds a atmosphere that is downbeat by horror conventions but incredibly effective at giving off this quiet sense of dread and mystery. Rollin's film taps into the deep recesses of true horror, exploring memory and identity, offering a devastating portrait of the importance of these two attribute in defining our individuality. I loved Rollin's use of composition and lighting while in the 'Black Tower', subtlely showing how these various individuals seek some type of solace or connection by being physically close to one and other, as if physical contact is the only way they can feel connected without memory. When Elizabeth is freed from the "Black Tower" Rollin film's Elizabeth and her new lover in much more open compositions, instilling a sense of comfort and freedom in these characters who have become intimate. The ending of The Night of the Hunted is fantastic, with Rollin commenting on the transformative power of love as if to suggest that love is all one needs in this world, doing so in a way that only Jean Rollin could.
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AuthorLove of all things cinema brought me here. Archives
June 2023
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