Bacurau

It isn’t remotely surprising that a political film can be gut-splitting entertainment; if the legacy of the American Western proves anything, it’s this. But Bacurau doesn’t merely reflect that legacy. It outdoes it.

The explosive fury of Bacurau’s slow-burn climax is a gratifying payoff to the film’s suspense, but without the deliberate measures taken to make the rest of the story count, it’d ring hollow.

There are those who will surely argue that this is not a tonally coherent film. But I was nonetheless rather elated by the way Filho weaves in so many outside touchstones while still maintaining his core interests in social dynamics and anti-capitalist sentiment.

Maybe the film loses its head a bit at this point too, with its deeper message lost in the epic bloodshed, but the chances are you’ll be having too much fun to mind.

The resulting genre stew is rich and flavorsome, if also somewhat chunky and uneven. The characters are thinly drawn by design, but Mendonça Filho and Dornelles know how to use the magnetism of their actors to maximum advantage.

The film succeeds as a stingingly personal missive aimed squarely at Brazil’s right-wing president.

This might not be the film you’re quite expecting from the director of arthouse dramas focused on modern life in Brazil, but it fits right in as a variation and continuation of Mendonça Filho’s pet themes.

talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique, completely not ever been done before, unafraid to reference or not reference, put it in a blender, **** on it, vomit on it, eat it, give birth to it.

obra prima sem precedentes. infelizmente o brasileiro tá tão acostumado com a produção norte-americana que automaticamente coloca defeito em tudo do seu próprio país. direção magistral do kleber, atuações memoráveis, enfim, 10/10.

Little engaging story, full of holes and flaws, plot leads nowhere, presents persogues for simply doing nothing in the plot, few actors really acted well, great photography and scenery, a film for those who don't like elaborate plots or characters that they hold you on the couch

Saw how highly this film was reviewed and fell for the bait. It’s an ok Cannes submission, but it’s probably a mid-range B-movie. I could make some informed speculation on why reviewers have it high marks, but I’ll just suggest you don’t get your hopes up too high if you are about to watch.

Bacurau's definitely an unusual film, but for me it wasn't a good one. Ultimately it came down to the story, which although initially interesting then takes a bizarre turn that ultimately just felt daft.