Don’t Look Now
The 1973 horror,Don’t Look Now, was overshadowed by a controversial scene that has made the film infamous.
Directed by Nicolas Roeg and based on a short story by Daphne du Maurier,Don’t Look Nowtells a chilling story of a grieving couple who experience mysterious things after meeting a clairvoyant woman.The horror movie received critical acclaim upon its releaseand has become one of thebest horror movies about grief.
Although the film which starred Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie is a masterpiece, the notorious scene overshadowed the best parts of the movie, such as its core themes and forward-thinking portrayal of intimacy.
Despite the controversial scene,Don’t Look Now’s shocking ending, inventive editing style, and incredible quality have earned its place as one of the best movies of its era.
The horror film is not only highly regarded in the horror genre, but it has a 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes,making it one of Sutherland’s best works.
Don’t Look Now (1973), directed by Nicolas Roeg, is one of the creepiest films ever made, with audiences still talking about the dwarf killer reveal.
Don’t Look Now Was Overshadowed By Its Controversial Sex Scene Upon Release
The Don’t Look Now Sex Scene Is Infamous Because Of A Rumor
Don’t Look Nowis even to this day still remembered for its controversial sex scene.
The infamous scene caused a stir when the film was released,mostly because it was the 1970s, and sex scenes were viewed differently then than they are today.
Adding to the controversy that already surrounded the movie was the rumor that the two actors in the scene, Sutherland and Christie, actually had sex on camera.
Grieving parents John and Laura Baxter travel to Venice following the accidental drowning of their daughter, Christine. While in Venice, they encounter two elderly sisters, one of whom claims to be a psychic who can communicate with Christine’s spirit. As Laura becomes increasingly convinced of the psychic’s abilities, John begins experiencing eerie visions of a small figure in a red coat, reminiscent of what Christine was wearing when she died.
When Don’t Look Now was submitted for classification, the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) gave the film an X certificate (the equivalent of 18 in today’s rating) due to the five-minute-long sex scene.
In his memoir,Infamous Players: A Tale of Movies, Peter Bart stated, My gaze shifted to the actors, and I was riveted.
By their shifting positions, it was clear to me they were no longer simply acting: they were f***ing on camera.
Don’t Look Now’s Streaming Success Proves How Well The Movie Has Aged
Don’t Look Now Has A 93% Rotten Tomatoes Score
Over 50 years later,the controversial 1973 thriller with a 93% Rotten Tomatoesscore became a streaming success.
According toReelgood,Don’t Look Nowranked as the eighth most popular movie for the week of June 20-26 in the U.S.
The film’s surge in streaming occurred shortly after Sutherland’s death on June 20, 2024.Don’t Look Nowmight have been marred by its controversial sex scene when it was released, but the film is critically acclaimed and is one ofDonald Sutherland’s best movies.
The director’s exploration of grief and the intriguing mystery earned the movie seven BAFTA nominations, of which it won one.
The unique editing and visual style that Roeg used in the movie shows thatDon’t Look Nowwas ahead of its time.
The director’s exploration of grief and the intriguing mystery earned the movie seven BAFTA nominations, of which it won one.Don’t Look Nowmight be famous because of its notorious sex scene, but it will also be remembered as one of the best supernatural horrors ever made.
Sources:Far Out Magazine,Reelgood
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Grieving parents John and Laura Baxter travel to Venice following the accidental drowning of their daughter, Christine.
While in Venice, they encounter two elderly sisters, one of whom claims to be a psychic who can communicate with Christine’s spirit.
As Laura becomes increasingly convinced of the psychics abilities, John begins experiencing eerie visions of a small figure in a red coat, reminiscent of what Christine was wearing when she died.
