Tom at the Farm

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

TOM AT THE FARM finally hits US theaters. And we are lucky to have it! Xavier Dolan's kind of latest (the film was actually made before MOMMY) is sexy, funny, creepy, romantic, and downright scary. This wonderful examination of self hatred, sexual confusion, and mommy love (again from Dolan) is pitch perfect until a last act that meanders and may leave you wondering what it was all about. But Dolan proves he is one of our great living directors. So TOM AT THE FARM is not perfect but still well beyond most of what you will see this year. And no matter how you react, you will be haunted.

It is almost two years ago that I viewed ‘Tom at the Farm’ at the London Film Festival and between then, and it now finally getting some sort of US release, I have caught up with all Xavier Dolan’s other work. His films are all good and his best film ‘Mommy’ is outstanding. As a young director still in his mid-twenties his achievements are nothing short of phenomenal. Whilst his films are flawed he is still the most exciting and inspired director since Brian De Palma. His stories feel fresh; his visuals are bold and imaginative and his choice of music is exciting and provides maximum emotional impact. ‘Tom at the Farm’ is a real curiosity. Full of intrigue and menace which is underlined by Gabriel Yared’s effective score and recalls to mind the work of Bernard Hermann for Alfred Hitchcock. Tom has gone to visit the family of his deceased partner, but finds himself at odds with the dead man’s brother who is prone to violence. The character motivation for Tom is somewhat suspect as after the first violent encounter any normal person would be racing to the next town. Inferences are made that the brother is gay and the **** erotic undertones are never more present than when the two perform a tango together. This makes for a very strange scene indeed. As already mentioned, and as is usual in a Dolan film, music plays a key part. Michele Legrand’s hauntingly beautiful ‘The Windmills of your mind’, sung in French, opens the film promisingly, but is guilty of out staying its welcome. However, another song ‘Going to Town’ is far more successful in closing proceedings. For connoisseurs of the weird and the wonderfully original it is well worth seeking out, flaws ‘n’ all.

So young and making a so good and solid thriller that seems made by an already established director has its merit. Actually, the first film of him that I saw and I JUST LOVED IT.

Am a huge fan of Mommy (2014) directed by Xavier Dolan. This gave me a huge expectation on this film. He also starred in the lead role. But, totally disappointed me. It failed to engage me completely into the movie.