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IMAGES (1972) (***1/2)

This psychological thriller from director Robert Altman (M*A*S*H) is like a cross between DON’T LOOK NOW, SPIDER and A BEAUTIFUL MIND.

Cathryn (Susannah York, THEY SHOOT HORSES, DON’T THEY?) is a writer, whose husband Hugh (Rene Auberjonois, TV’s STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE) is a successful businessman. Early on, we realize that Cathryn is schizophrenic and sees things that are not real. After an episode, Cathryn convinces Hugh to take a holiday in the country. There, they meet with friend Rene (Marcel Bozzuffi, Z), whose young daughter Susannah (Cathryn Harrison, THE DRESSER) becomes friends with Cathryn.

The visions Cathryn experiences range from people in her life like her husband, Rene and Susannah to dead lover Marcel (Hugh Millais, MCCABE & MRS. MILLER). Sometimes the visions are completely in her mind and at other times she mistakes one person for another. This creates a creepy uncertainty about what is real and what is not. Cathryn's struggles with her sanity lead to violent actions.

The tone of the film reminded me so much of DON’T LOOK NOW as well as Altman’s 3 WOMEN. David Cronenberg’s SPIDER deals with a non-functional schizophrenic where as Ron Howard’s A BEAUTIFUL MIND a functional schizophrenic. Cathryn is somewhere in the middle.

Altman creates wonderful visual metaphors throughout the film using mirrors, wind chimes and water. The story is very bare bones and deals more with mood and suspense than developing a complex plot. It’s a haunting horror film that creates the perfect feeling of fractured reality that a schizophrenic must feel.

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Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks