Polaris_DiB
Typically adaptations of literature in this style do not operate well--where the original text is overlaid in voice over against images, either the words clash with the imagery or reinforce it too much, making the experience of either watching or reading redundant. Instead of populating the house with Usher, his sister, and his friend, however, Svankmajer lets the elements, space, and furniture speak of its own characterization while a very good reading of the short story plays over some of Svankmajer's signature stop motion animation. It has been a while since I've read the short story, but from my memory of it this is the text in exactness and entirety, so that's really good. The storm and the abode are satisfyingly Gothic, and a really good graphic match between animated clay and a tree's roots are but one of many examples of the muddy and hazy quality of all of the imagery in this movie which weighs down with its dark Romantic tone. Svankmajer at least managed to hit the spirit of the story, if not the character's faces.--PolarisDiB
MisterWhiplash
For sixteen minutes Czech animator and filmmaker Jan Svankmajer does his job well with getting a real terror and doom and gloom and deconstruction of the house of Usher, one of those quintessential spots of horror of Poe. In just watching the images go by and the stop-motion utilized in creative and unexpected ways involving the house and walls and pools of water and mud, it's amazing work. But the problem for me was in the actual translation of the story itself. Perhaps it's being only most familiar with English, so with the DVD subtitles going by at a quick clip that it's hard to keep up with keeping an eye on all of these dark visions put on the screen. That there's also a complete lack of any actors (unless one counts a sole raven among the cast) is also a deterrent since the story features all of these characters decomposing along with the damned house itself. It's an expressionist experiment, somewhat reminiscent of parts of Last Year at Marienbad, but it's only successful in part because of the director's dedication to the imagery. It's great pictures put to a so-so execution of "story" if there is much of one at all; maybe I'll learn Czech one say and it'll appear better.
Lee Eisenberg
In one of his two adaptations of Edgar Allan Poe stories - the other was "The Pit and the Pendulum" - Czech animator Jan Svankmajer creates a more horrific version than most movies ever have, namely since the black and white cinematography gives it a more Gothic feel. "Zanik domu Usheru" has the protagonist go to the house only to find the owner feeling ill and the sister moribund. But of course, there's something even uglier in store.Svankmajer puts his own spin on it, with the furniture moving on its own, among other things. Poe would certainly be proud of this. Definitely worth seeing.
Timothy Damon
Beginning and ending with the shot of a large raven, Jan Svankmajer's rendition of Poe's tale of The Fall of the House of Usher uses various stop-motion animation techniques to tell a riveting version with mold growing, chairs moving about, and the name of Roderick's sister appearing magicly in clay. All sorts of furniture rapidly departing (without the help of human hands) the house as it disintegrates adds a somewhat light touch to the story.
AD
