Anamorph Review

Written by: Cemetarygirl   

This is a movie that is not for everyone. It brings up a lot of interesting points on the psyche. Mans interpretation of things and one of those things being the truth. It is about perspective and the way that this can steer you in the wrong direction regardless of whether you consider yourself right or wrong (and most people consider themselves to be right)

This movie begins with a serial killer and a detective that seeks him out. In the first set of murders (and something that is missed by the detectives) each victim is set out in a contrived piece with DEAD written somewhere on their body or bodies. They seemed to be laid out as in a still life. Stan played by Willem decides that the killer is a man known to them via sex crimes at the time. They raid the guys place and in their zeal to get the guy, they kill him (or rather George does) Killings end and Willem gets a promotion. But he cannot forgive himself for the death of a young girl. So he moves sideways and teaches about serial killers and unusual crimes involving death. Now it is not quite clear if his behaviour is a result of the killer named Uncle Eddy (such an innocuous name which softened the barbarity of his crimes) So Stan lives an ordered life, everything is put in a precise place and nothing is ever out of place. His house is minimalistic and he has an interest in antique chairs.

The only 'friend' he has, is an antique dealer and they share many discussions on antiques and also the crimes that Stan is involved with. Because of Stan's feeling and thinking nature, to ground himself, he drinks and has a large collection of mini bar drinks, that he keeps in his car and his office. Everyone knows he drinks but noone ever says anything they just talk about him behind his back. Another person that he talks to is the friend of the last girl to get murdered played by Clea Duvell. This is a quiet time of conversations in the hospital.

Stan is partnered by Carl played by Scott Speedman, Now Scott is a regular cop with base instincts and lives in the good guy bad guy of the Cop world. He sees things in black and white and is a guy that wants to reach the top. As the daily grind of the Cop world is the husband did it, the wife did it and get a conviction. Well crimes that exist out side of this are given to such as Stan. Maybe the first set of murders where rushed to get a conviction. This is not something that sticks out, but what does stick out is how the murders are escalated. No longer is it merely a set piece but a macarbre arrangement of the victims body, and the first in this is a body viewed through a pinhole but when the light is switched on this is transposed through this pinhole and on to the adjoining wall, upside down. Each murder becomes more grotesque and the victim is carved up and rearranged.

The thing is that each piece appears like a work of art and in itself can be quite beautiful in its interpretation of life and from a different perspective. The killer breaks into Stans apartment and steals his antique chair drawing him deeper and deeper into his web. Later his friend the antique dealer shows him some art work that leads Stan closer to the killer. And makes you wonder about the nature of truth and the truth that we all think that we know, until the perspective is changed and it is a jolt to our very foundations.

I know that you think that I have rabbited on enough, and I will not spoil the ending for you. (This in itself can take a couple of watches to get your head around and change your own perspective)