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6.9/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.9/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. A Night on Bald Mountain remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, you either want to watch a pin-screen fever dream for a few minutes or you don't. It's not a movie you watch with popcorn and a beer; it’s the kind of thing that makes you sit up straight because the textures are so weirdly tactile.
If you like stuff that feels like it was scratched out of a dark room, you’ll love this. If you need a plot that goes from A to B without jumping off a cliff into madness, skip it. It makes Felix Tries to Rest look like a straight-laced documentary.
I’ve never seen anything quite like this animation style. It’s not fluid like the old studio stuff. It’s gritty. It’s like watching charcoal drawings fight each other in real-time.
The scarecrow blowing down at the start? It felt strangely heavy. Like, you could almost hear the wind hitting the screen.
The whole thing is just a barrage of shapes. One second there is a town, the next it’s just a pile of teeth and ghosts. It’s relentless. It doesn't care if you're keeping up with the narrative because there isn't really one.
The music does a lot of the heavy lifting here, but the visuals are what keep you staring. It’s dark. Like, really dark. I kept waiting for a punchline or a moment of relief, but the movie just doubles down on the gloom. It’s kind of refreshing, actually.
It’s not trying to be Camille or anything grounded. It’s just pure, unfiltered nightmare fuel. If you’ve got ten minutes and want to feel slightly unsettled, give it a shot. Just don't expect to sleep soundly right after. 🌑