The Melancholy Fantastic (2011)

The Melancholy Fantastic is a pleasure to watch. The cinematography is beautiful and holds your interest, even during the few moments when the pace of the movie slows down. The plot is not obvious and requires full attention to understand its subtleties, but the suspense and images are enough to carry you through it, even if you are not in the mood to "think" it. The music is great. The film features great images of New England in winter. I've seen many higher-budget Christmas movies that I didn't enjoy nearly as much. It is a great movie to watch by the fire with friends when all your Christmas shopping is finally done. Don't forget the popcorn. Enjoy!

Fmovies: The Melancholy Fantastic is a pleasure to watch. The cinematography is beautiful and holds your interest, even during the few moments when the pace of the movie slows down. The plot is not obvious and requires full attention to understand its subtleties, but the suspense and images are enough to carry you through it, even if you are not in the mood to "think" it. The music is great. The film features great images of New England in winter. I've seen many higher-budget Christmas movies that I didn't enjoy nearly as much. It is a great movie to watch by the fire with friends when all your Christmas shopping is finally done. Don't forget the popcorn. Enjoy!

Melanie spends her days kicking around the family home, buying Hostess snowballs from the local mini-mart, visiting the library, and conversing with an eerie mannequin-headed doll named Mor. Over the course of the film, she builds a friendship with local goth outcast Dukkan, who's intrigued by the standoffish girl.

A few minutes in, and I was struck with an overwhelming sense of déjà vu. The basic story is identical to Lucky McKee's 2002 cult hit "May." I don't know if this was by design or total coincidence, but the similarities are undeniable. Where they differ is in the execution. With its bizarro lead character, flashbacks, montages, gore, and sumptuous musical score, "May" was boldly designed to grab people's attention. This one's a little more subdued and accessible to mainstream viewers.

True to its title, "The Melancholy Fantastic,"treats the story like a dramatic character study, relying on the performances to draw viewers in. And it works. Amy Crowdis is charming as the childlike Melanie (it's a shame that she didn't pursue more acting roles), and future-Penguin Robin Lord Taylor brings Dukken to life with a sensitive portrayal. The movie's well-paced (although intentionally slow), well-shot, it hints at the supernatural, and leaves you wanting more.

Although it feels like a remake, I'd certainly recommend this short flick if you like grim oddities.

The Melancholy Fantastic fmovies. Melanie spends her days kicking around the family home, buying Hostess snowballs from the local mini-mart, visiting the library, and conversing with an eerie mannequin-headed doll named Mor. Over the course of the film, she builds a friendship with local goth outcast Dukkan, who's intrigued by the standoffish girl.

A few minutes in, and I was struck with an overwhelming sense of déjà vu. The basic story is identical to Lucky McKee's 2002 cult hit "May." I don't know if this was by design or total coincidence, but the similarities are undeniable. Where they differ is in the execution. With its bizarro lead character, flashbacks, montages, gore, and sumptuous musical score, "May" was boldly designed to grab people's attention. This one's a little more subdued and accessible to mainstream viewers.

True to its title, "The Melancholy Fantastic,"treats the story like a dramatic character study, relying on the performances to draw viewers in. And it works. Amy Crowdis is charming as the childlike Melanie (it's a shame that she didn't pursue more acting roles), and future-Penguin Robin Lord Taylor brings Dukken to life with a sensitive portrayal. The movie's well-paced (although intentionally slow), well-shot, it hints at the supernatural, and leaves you wanting more.

Although it feels like a remake, I'd certainly recommend this short flick if you like grim oddities.

A good performance from the lead (Amy Crowdies), and her journey is certainly interesting, but it is difficult to know what we are expected to take from the film. In linear terms, is the story just Amy's reaction to her own grief? Are we being told not to have anything to do with outsiders, because they are superficial? Don't trust lads who wear make-up?

For a modestly budgeted slow-burner, I found a lot to enjoy here. The locations are suitably isolated to lend us a sense of Melanie's isolation, and the chilly weather adds to this, whilst helping create some picturesque small-town settings. My score is 6 out of 10.

A good performance from the lead (Amy Crowdies), and her journey is certainly interesting, but it is difficult to know what we are expected to take from the film. In linear terms, is the story just Amy's reaction to her own grief? Are we being told not to have anything to do with outsiders, because they are superficial? Don't trust lads who wear make-up?

For a modestly budgeted slow-burner, I found a lot to enjoy here. The locations are suitably isolated to lend us a sense of Melanie's isolation, and the chilly weather adds to this, whilst helping create some picturesque small-town settings. My score is 6 out of 10.