Watch Mandy
- NR
- 2018
- 2 hr 1 min
-
6.5 (92,541)
Mandy is a visually stunning, psychedelic horror film from 2018 directed by Panos Cosmatos. The movie stars Nicolas Cage as Red Miller, a lumberjack who lives a peaceful life with his girlfriend Mandy Bloom (Andrea Riseborough) in a secluded cabin in the woods. Mandy is a dreamy, otherworldly character who spends her days reading fantasy novels and creating her own mystical artwork. One day, while she's walking home from work, she catches the eye of a charismatic cult leader named Jeremiah Sand (Linus Roache) who becomes obsessed with her. He enlists a group of demonic bikers known as the Black Skulls to help him kidnap Mandy, setting off a chain of events that leads Red on a vengeful mission to save the love of his life.
The movie has a surreal, fantastical feel that's reminiscent of David Lynch's work. The scenes are often bathed in neon or garish colors, giving the viewer the feeling that they're lost in a dream. The movie's score, composed by the late Jóhann Jóhannsson, is itself a work of art. The swelling, otherworldly tones add to the dreamlike quality of the movie.
Though it's often categorized as a horror film, Mandy is really a love story at its core. The central relationship between Red and Mandy is both tender and passionate. The scenes they share together are filled with quiet moments of love and intimacy that make their separation all the more heart-wrenching.
One of the highlights of the movie is arguably Cage's performance. He's known for his over-the-top style of acting, and Mandy definitely plays to his strengths in that department. Cage gives a performance that's simultaneously unhinged and vulnerable, making the audience root for him even as he descends further into madness.
The movie also has a strong feminist message. Mandy is a multidimensional character who's both gentle and fierce. She's a contrast to the toxic masculinity embodied by Jeremiah, who believes that the world owes him power and adulation. When Mandy rejects him, he responds with brutal violence, showing how fragile male ego can turn deadly.
The movie's violence is graphic and unrelenting. The scenes of sadistic torture and killing are not for the faint of heart. However, the violence serves a purpose. It highlights the contrast between the serene, natural world of Red's cabin and the chaotic, violent world that exists outside of it. The movie is about the lengths one will go to protect the things they love, no matter how gruesome the consequences.
Overall, Mandy is a unique and visually stunning movie that tells a love story unlike any other. It's a movie for people who love surreal, dreamlike films that don't shy away from violence and horror. If you're looking for something that's both beautiful and terrifying, Mandy should definitely be on your watchlist.
Mandy is a 2018 fantasy movie with a runtime of 2 hours and 1 minute. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5 and a MetaScore of 82.