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5.1/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.1/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Disappearing Enemies remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, you have to be in a specific mood for Disappearing Enemies. If you love old-school, slightly frantic domestic comedies where people just shout at each other while moving furniture, you’ll have a decent time. If you need a movie that makes sense or has a fast pace, stay far away.
It’s the kind of film where the conflict is purely about who hates who more. It reminds me a bit of the domestic bickering found in Husbands and Wives, though clearly with a much lower budget and way less psychological depth.
The whole movie feels like it was filmed in a shoebox. Everything happens in these tight, claustrophobic rooms where the actors look like they are constantly fighting for floor space. It’s funny in an accidental way.
There is this one scene where they are all standing around the dinner table, and the tension is supposed to be thick, but the background prop looks like it’s about to tip over. I spent five minutes watching that vase instead of the actual dialogue. 🏺
Seriously, there’s a moment where the uncle just stares at the camera for a second too long. It felt like he forgot his line and was waiting for the director to bail him out. It stayed in the final cut. I loved that.
It’s not perfect. It’s actually quite messy. But there’s a charm to how hard these actors are trying to make a silly premise feel like a high-stakes war. It’s not as polished as Spring Fever, but it has more personality than most of these studio filler pieces from the era.
Don't expect to be changed by it. Just grab a snack and enjoy the bickering. It’s harmless, weirdly specific, and finishes before you have time to get bored of the yelling. 🥂