Mandy (2018) Review

This one is tough to describe. It has an ultra simplistic plot. A guy goes after the people who kill his girlfriend. There's no real backstory, no real character or world building. No sub plots, no new character introductions, no twists.

It's also a very artsy, slow moving, very quiet, movie for the most part, at least throughout the first of two hours.

Think Hereditary, but in slow motion.

Yet despite this, and in part because of this, it's a wildly unique and dynamic movie that's seriously psychedelic, surreal and mind-blowingly awesome. I was floored after watching it. It's the kind of movie you just stare at throughout the ending credits wondering WTF you just saw (and how soon you can see it again).

I admit I did get bored at times during the first half. The cinematography and score were both outstanding, but the story is very slow to unfold.

But then there's this one scene, you'll know it when you see it, that the entire tone changes and the Nick Cage unchained insanity that you're looking for really kicks in. This is when the wild ride starts.

I had so much fun watching this and was fortunate to have been able to watch it in a theater.

So yeah, how to describe Mandy? I really can't do it justice. But can tell you without spoiling anything that there's blood, anguish, drugs, booze, blacksmithing of elaborate battle axes, chainsaw sword fights, dead fawns, demons, there's a tiger for some reason...

Mandy is just a wild ride that you have to see to believe.

Worth Watching?