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5.7/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.7/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Strictly Personal remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like movies that feel like they are constantly tripping over their own shoelaces, then sure, sit down for Strictly Personal. If you need a movie to follow a logical path from A to B without taking three wrong turns in the dark, stay away. This isn't exactly high art, but it’s got a strange, frantic rhythm that kept me awake.
There’s a scene early on where someone is talking way too fast and honestly, I think they forgot their line for a split second. They just kept going anyway. I respect that.
It’s not as polished as Ariane, that’s for sure. The whole thing feels like it was filmed in a bit of a rush, like the studio was turning the lights off while they were still wrapping up the last shot. 🍿
The pacing is all over the place. Sometimes it drags, then suddenly everyone is shouting. It reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in Officer 666, but with more people crammed into the frame. There’s one shot where the background actor in the corner is clearly just waiting for his cue to walk out of the room. He looks bored as hell.
It’s not trying to be a deep meditation on anything, which is a relief. Sometimes you just want to see people making terrible choices in fancy clothes. It’s definitely not on the level of Diane of the Follies, but it’s got a weird heart to it. 🎞️
I found myself wondering if they even had a full script on set. Some of the reactions look so genuine because the actors probably had no idea what was coming next. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, right?
At the end of the day, it’s a bit of a scrap-heap of ideas. Some of them work, most of them just sort of happen. Don't think too hard about the plot holes. They are big enough to drive a truck through.