Amer DVD

A Dario Argento inspired horror expression that stuns
with its visuals and disturbs with its subtext.

Amer is not your
normal slasher horror film. It bares little in common with the more Hollywood
output of a Paranormal Activity (2007)
or Saw (2004) but instead draws its
influence from the master of the Giallo Horror Dario Argento.

The film takes
the form of three chapters through the course of Ana’s life. The first as child
Ana (Foret) comes to understand the
passing of her grandfather while the witch-like maid stalks the house. The
second sees teenage Ana (Guibeaud)
becoming aware of her physical being and encountering a bizarre biker gang.
Finally the adult Ana (Bos) returns
to her family home only to find the lines of fantasy and reality blending to a
bloody climax.

For anyone who
has seen Argento’s Suspiria (1977)
there is little here that you will not be familiar with. Everything from the use of vibrant colour lighting to convey mood to
extreme close-ups and crash-zooms are present and accounted for.

In many ways it
is unclear what the message of the film is. Clearly sexual awakening plays a
key role, but as a coherent whole the film falters. Where it excels is in creating a visual story with the use of minimal
dialogue. No shot is there for the sake of it but paints a stunning montage
in conveying the emotions of the story. Dali and Bunel’s classic film Un Chien
Analou (1929) is clearly an influence right down to close-ups of bugs and
slicing skin.

Irrelevant of the story or the character Amer is a
film that manages to form a perfectly realised dream, or indeed nightmare, like
state while always cementing visuals firmly in your mind’s eye.

Disturbing in the best possible way this is a film
that will appeal more to film connoisseurs than horror fans.