Ravenous (1999) - User Ratings and Movie Reviews

great, by metalwrath

By , January 10, 2004

Best movie i have ever seen ! really !

Blind leading the?, by Seventh

By , November 18, 2003

Ravenous fast became one of my favorite movies of all time, for most of the reasons mentioned above save for those sounding as though their comming from a fan of those monstrosities known as B-movies. Ravenous isn't out to terrify anyone. I believe the author of the above missed the entire point of the film. The movie makes you think, which is something only a select few movies ever accomplish. It deals with a very black and white scenario, then throws in every single shade of grey possible. It leaves the moral highground invisible to the naked eye, it removes that border between black and white so many films fail to do. The cast of characters is not at all likable, but are incredibly real. They are the extremes of personalities that walk the modern streets muffled every day. Each and every one of them is absolutely human, yet their most outstanding trait is hyperbolized to the point it becomes them. You're presented with a coward to the core, a nihilist, a drunkard, a religious fanatic, a blowhard soldier so controlled by machismo that he has nothing else, a procrastinating druggie seeking little other than cheap thrills, and a predator, seemingly unconscionable, but reasonable at the same time. Each one is incredibly well played, and very easy to hate, which adds to that grey area. Add into the story that both hero and villian were forced into their predicaments by means beyond their control and you have a very captivating story in the making. Both Boyd and Calhoon have well thought out backstories, well presented reasons for being who and how they are, and to say that the film resembles a Dracula rip off simply because of the devouring of flesh in the persuit of strength is to lessen everything that Ravenous is. Don't think for a moment that the villian was driven by a lust for power, or a following, think of it as a side effect of his initial goal, which is made clear in the film. The musical score is ingenious, the morbid rythms coupled with eerily uplifting melodies perfect the mood of those scenes with which they're entwined. It suits the pace and feel of the film perfectly. The direction, the scenery, everything about Ravenous is brilliantly done, unfortunately, it was undermined by the expectations of moviegoers unsure of what they were getting into. If you'd like to see a hack and slash horror flick with a sub-par plot, and black and white acting, by all means, find something suitable and leave Ravenous alone. If you're looking for an inreiguing take on cloudy morality, and the darkside of a mans will to survive, check out this film.