There has been a lot of very positive things said and written about The Villainess; from a standing ovation at Cannes (for all that that means), to the critics, even through to the commenters here on IMDb. Despite that I came to the film open to whatever it did, although of course I came to it because I had heard many positive things about it. Having seen the film myself, I am left rather bemused about the near universal positive commentary for The Villainess, because it didn't really stand out to me as being anything particularly special, even though it does have elements (or sequences) which are memorable.
As a whole, the film felt like a collection of bits from other films or works, pulled together to try to freshen up a plot which doesn't really flow, and characters that are never fleshed out to the point that we really care about them or invest in who they are. The action is where the focus is, although I was surprised how long periods of the film didn't have any. The action is worth a look, with the opening pov sequence, and the final sequences, being bloody, energetic, and enjoyable – however they also represent the constant problem of the film – which is that it all feels very familiar, but not as good as what it reminds you of.
For example, the pov stuff is directly from Ilya Naishuller's music videos (and then the feature Hardcore Henry), but it is not as slickly or smoothly delivered as those videos (not seen the feature). Within that, and particularly evident in the final road- based sequence, is the influence of The Raid and The Raid 2; in those films the camera is thrown around within the action, as well as making seemingly impossible transitions within the scene (specifically the chase sequence here and in Raid 2). It is good here, but never as good as in Evans' two films – while also being totally 'influenced' by them to the point of being constantly in their shadow (in my opinion). The plot also heavily smacks of Nikita, but maybe would have done better to stick closer to it since here the plot is messy and too jumbled to flow. I liked the fragmented structure of it as an idea, and it works pretty well as a device – but it is the content and delivery that limits it. The cast didn't seem able to lift the material, and although good in the action, they didn't find their characters outside of the moment.
The Villainess has enough about it in the start and end to be worth a look. It runs longer than it can bare though, and the plot doesn't work well enough to engage through some of the periods of no action. It is very much in the shadow of its many influences though, and while I enjoyed some aspects, mostly it felt too familiar and knocked-off.
As a whole, the film felt like a collection of bits from other films or works, pulled together to try to freshen up a plot which doesn't really flow, and characters that are never fleshed out to the point that we really care about them or invest in who they are. The action is where the focus is, although I was surprised how long periods of the film didn't have any. The action is worth a look, with the opening pov sequence, and the final sequences, being bloody, energetic, and enjoyable – however they also represent the constant problem of the film – which is that it all feels very familiar, but not as good as what it reminds you of.
For example, the pov stuff is directly from Ilya Naishuller's music videos (and then the feature Hardcore Henry), but it is not as slickly or smoothly delivered as those videos (not seen the feature). Within that, and particularly evident in the final road- based sequence, is the influence of The Raid and The Raid 2; in those films the camera is thrown around within the action, as well as making seemingly impossible transitions within the scene (specifically the chase sequence here and in Raid 2). It is good here, but never as good as in Evans' two films – while also being totally 'influenced' by them to the point of being constantly in their shadow (in my opinion). The plot also heavily smacks of Nikita, but maybe would have done better to stick closer to it since here the plot is messy and too jumbled to flow. I liked the fragmented structure of it as an idea, and it works pretty well as a device – but it is the content and delivery that limits it. The cast didn't seem able to lift the material, and although good in the action, they didn't find their characters outside of the moment.
The Villainess has enough about it in the start and end to be worth a look. It runs longer than it can bare though, and the plot doesn't work well enough to engage through some of the periods of no action. It is very much in the shadow of its many influences though, and while I enjoyed some aspects, mostly it felt too familiar and knocked-off.