Leofwine_draca
THE DEVIL'S CARNIVAL is nothing more than a filmed stage musical with a boisterous, camp atmosphere a la THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW. It was directed by a guy who did some SAW sequels and has a few familiar Hollywood faces in minor roles. The whole thing is short and snappy, obviously set in a single location, with a lot of effort having gone into vibrant costumes and powerful makeup. The titular location is a place where sinners repent by living their sins over and again. The songs are pretty decent but to my mind there just aren't enough of them.
Elizabeth Wylie
First of all, I've read through some of the reviews already on here and it just made me realise that the majority of these people didn't actually watch the film. I mean, they must have not? Some of the things they say are just completely ridiculous and wouldn't be said if they had watched the film.First of all, someone said this movie promotes victim-blaming. Uh, no it does not. The young girl goes to hell because she is naive, she trusts her abusive boyfriend over and over until it leads to her death. Her naivety even when she knows better is her sin, as is made blatant when she trusts Scorpion even after he kisses Painted Doll, and when she puts her trust in Lucifer at the end of the movie.The victims are tortured and ridiculed because it's hell. It's the age old assumption of what could be worse than death, and the older woman's nakedness and ridicule is, to her, what is worse than death. She is stripped literally and metaphorically of everything that corrupted her. It isn't mindless titillation, anyone who thinks so clearly has no analytically skills whatsoever.The aesthetics are incredible and the way they've combined Aesop's Fables with a Gothic-esque atmosphere works very well.The only complaint I have is it was too short. There wasn't enough time for character development and the only character I felt any connection at all with was the male victim.
bipolarcow
Before I say anything this should be known. DO RESEARCH. Terrance Zdunich does NOT write for a main stream audience. This movie doesn't cater to a wide audience because it was not created for one. It was created because Zdunich wanted to make it. I found the use of Aesop's Fables clever. I found that the lack of character development was purposeful. Most characters didn't even have names but titles. Which I found effective. There wasn't much of a plot. That's because it was Aesop's Fables. What is my problem with the film though? Too short.. Though I am more okay with this because this is a trilogy which in my opinion excuses the brevity. The movie is chaos because its a carnival in hell and I think a lot of people miss that point. Is this movie great? no. Is it worthy of a 1 or 3 star rating? GOD NO. The film is just really okay. Nothing more but nothing less.
isisgirly
Forced by a rabid fan-girl to watch this and I want my time back. Rip-off of Aesop's fables done so badly with so little thought to logic that I the moral's are lost.First victim? Why didn't the director/writers have her crushed to death in the weight of her greed and things that she stole? Oh no, we're just going to rip off her clothes and whip her for a bit. Second victim? She "sinned" by trusting? Give me a break. Third victim? Died of sorrow, wasn't terribly clear on it. If you're going to take fables from ancient Greece and combine the Judaic-Christo "evil" character, at least put some effort into it.Looked like they couldn't decide on what kind of costumes to use and just said, "f-it go to the flea market and take everything that you can."
AD
