I'm not entirely sure what to make of this. I don't mean that in a bad way, though, since I was fascinated and curious as to how things would play out. I was also entranced by the beauty. There's no shortage of it; in fact, it's an element that is sure to catch your eye. All the more reason to admire it, especially when it is mixed with death. There are few instances of that, and they stand out due to being Argento-esque. There's no denying that Jodorowsky is paying homage to Argento. He's not doing so in a way that is sloppy or ham-fisted; rather, he does so skillfully and carefully. I think that shows, and I think the mixture of color and bloodshed is disturbing but also hard to ignore.
Fenix is a character whose traumatic childhood runs deep and has lasting effects. This is nothing out of the ordinary as far as horror films go, but Fenix's experiences, whether he's performing a stage play or portraying the Invisible Man, show that he's coming to terms with his past all the while carrying out brutal murders. It's an unusual way of dealing with trauma; there's no doubt about that, but it makes sense given Fenix's relationship with his mother. He is her arms, and so he is carrying out actions that are as violent as they are indicative of a lust for blood. I couldn't imagine having a mother who has a penchant for such acts. I'd probably lost my mind if I did, or at the very least, I would distance myself from her. Fenix doesn't have that choice due his mother's control over him.
There are many strange characters in this film. That's partly due to the fact that some of them are circus performers, in which case I don't see myself forgetting them anytime soon. Perhaps they'd pay me a visit if I did, but anyway, there's also a character who removes his ear. He's definitely a standout, as he seems to be paying homage to van Gogh. I don't know if that was what Jodorowsky was going for. Maybe, maybe not. Either way, the characters have character, and they fit in well with their milieu. That is apparent throughout, and so the world that Jodorowsky has created feels all the more fleshed out. I couldn't deny that even I was tied to a knife thrower's wheel of death.
