Review for Don't Look Now

Don't Look Now tells the story of John and Laura Baxter (Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie) who after the death of their daughter, travel to Venice to oversee the restoration of an old church. Once there, they encounter a couple, one a blind psychic who claims she has seen their daughter. What follows is a psychological look at hope, curiosity and how your dreams and visions can sometimes become your worst nightmare.

Don't Look Now is often described as one of the best films ever made. Certainly one of the best British films and also horror films created. Watching this film back I can understand why, but I am also a little confused by the praise too.

There's a little M.Night to this film that I really didn't like. The film's twist at the end can only be watched once with the same effect. The infamous sex scene between Sutherland and Christie is not as graphic as I was expecting, though it is a masterwork of editing and I can understand why so many directors say they were inspired by this style.


Although I agree the film is beautifully made, edited, scored and acted, it feels like the within the whole film, nothing happens leading up to this climax. It is simply a couple who has a child die and then...well I can't reveal the ending otherwise you may not get the same effect. Which, as I say, is one of the main problems with twist films, however unlike The Usual Suspects there are no clues to follow to prompt re-watching to figure out the ending it is just out of the blue.


The Blu-ray set comes with a variety of extra features including two documentaries which are fine, although it is interesting that one of them more or less warns you of spoilers if you haven't seen the film. An introduction by Alan Jones which really should have been in the interview section.


Interviews with writer Allan Scott, Tony Richmond, Donald Sutherland are all interesting and full of stories about the creation of the film. Danny Boyle contributes an interview and also a compressed five minute version of the film, which is really for those who don't have the patience to sit through the film.


Sadly what should be the best feature is the worst as the Nic Roeg commentary is possibly the worst I have ever heard... or I should say not heard. It really needed a subtitle track as his growly low voice meant that at times I had no idea what he was saying.


Don't Look Now should really be called 'You Won't Look Again'. I understand why visually people love this film and I understand that the twist at the end is a real shocker the first time. I just don't believe that you can watch this film more than once and get the same effect and for me that is not the mark of a masterpiece that people claim it to be.