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Post by Virgil Reality on Jan 18, 2006 20:47:11 GMT 8
Now that "Half Light" has been released on DVd in the US I thought it might be a good idea to set up a special thread where we can discuss the movie without giving away any clues which might spoil it for others - it's that sort of movie
SO
Caution only read this thread if you've seen the movie
Proceed at your own risk - discuss away
I must admit, I thought I had figured out what it would be about even before viewing and it was all proceeding just as I predicted until Patrick showed up.
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Post by sonicfrost on Jan 19, 2006 10:22:19 GMT 8
ok, hmm..what to say about it. We all thought the trailer had spoilers in it, but it doesn't...not really..I think the beginning of the movie was kinda boring, until she got to her cottage. The time Rachel spent with Angus was like a fantasy, they walked on the beach, and played with horses, and he showed her around the lighthouse, it was all really sweet. Then the townsfolk tell her that Angus died years ago. That's when things get really screwy. The part that scared me most was when she calls her friend, and her friend comes to the lighthouse and says she doesn't see Angus when he's standing in the doorway. Then her friend turns her back to him and he stabs her. I was like "OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG AAHHH" when that happened. And ghost kids are FREAKY!! Even though some parts I saw coming from a mile away, like the magnets on the fridge spelling out what he spelled before he died. hmm, not sure what else...I have to say that I didn't think it would end that way, though. I was shocked and appalled at the ending...Its not a great vision to see Hans jumping off a lighthouse and falling to his death on the jagged rocks below.
But like I said before, he's dressed in black for most of the movie (other than the part where he's naked, unfortunately you can only see him from the neck up..) He really works that black leather trench coat..Also, his part in the movie was larger than I thought it was, so that's some good news! This movie is definately worth buying! The storyline is great.
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Post by Gg on Jan 26, 2006 6:23:00 GMT 8
I really liked the contrast that was set up from his "angus" and his "patrick" -- nice to see him playing "angus" with such ease and comfort. He tends to play such deep characters that kind of wear their angst on their sleeves a bit. Nice to see him play, however deceptively, a "character" -- and very much so in the context -- who a bit more salt of the earth. Which of course makes you all the more curious about "patrick" and his deception in general.
Anybody else wonder what it WAS he was doing when he and Sharon first met -- that mystery is as interesting an afterthought as anything else!
Any theories? Murdering someone? Hustling? How much lower could he have been??? That line really conjuered abstract settings for me...
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Post by Virgil Reality on Jan 26, 2006 6:37:57 GMT 8
Yeah for me the subtle contrast between Angus and Patrick was one of the most interesting things about the movie. I liked how Angus was kind of laid-back, and he let Demi take centre stage so to speak. Though wasn't it frustrating how all his close-ups were not quite full-on and I'm yelling at the screen - "Show us his eyes! Let us see what she's seeing". I was kind of surprised when he stabbed Sharon - I'd bought into the belief that Angus was a fantasy of Rachel's delusional mind though going off her medication. I was even more surprised when Patrick showed up. Who'd have thought just putting on a denim jacket could change you so much! I guess we don't need to know what it was he was doing (What was he doing?) but the underlying menace was quite chilling. Can definitely see some potential there for playing some really dark psychotic character  And how about the Scottish accent eh? |
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Post by Gg on Jan 26, 2006 6:48:30 GMT 8
Who knows about those camera angles -- but he was playing a bit bashful - maybe it was part of his performance.
The Scottish accent was lovely of course! He's got a pretty big advantage on that -- nice highlands/islander lilt. Have you seen "My Name is Joe" -- low-land Scots with SUBTITLES!!
Changing the jacket and no romantic wind blowing his hair around. Clicked over his ears, denim jacket -- suddenly he's a deceitful urbanite.
I was convinced he can't cook fish -- that seems natural.
Anyone wonder what the real "angus" looked like??
I liked that when she said "do you know that celtic legend" he almost looked paniced a bit -- like crap! -- shouldn't "angus" know that...
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Post by Gg on Jan 26, 2006 6:49:57 GMT 8
I don't know though -- I thought if this character is a ghost he's certainly capable of killing everyone but her -- like you're mine now and no one can save you. That possibility entered my mind.
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Post by odybu on Feb 26, 2006 15:44:39 GMT 8
I watched Half Light last night and I really liked it! I was impressed that I didn't see what was coming next in this film. It is often so easy to predict in so many things anymore.
I found the scene where he stabs her friend to be really odd, with the legend being that, to my understanding, that the deaths resulting from the affair were more crimes of passion than cold blooded murder (though, not to say that "hooking" a man is not horrifying!)
I agree that the scenes on the island were very romantic. Breathtaking, really. I was a bit surprised at first that Angus would take advantage of Rachel when she was so vulnerable. Of course, then there's the loneliness factor of being on the island all of the time and just trying to reach out to console her. Then once I realized what was going on it made even more sense.
Loved how easily he was able to speak with the Scottish accent. I have seen many movies with folks trying to pull off an accent other than there own that did not perform well at all. I realize that he was born in Scotland, but his accent is English.
I'm curious also, the Angus that was on the balcony(who apparently was a ghost or was he a figment of Rachel's imagination?) when Rachel's friend called to her, he was dressed the same as Patrick dressed, in the black jacket. Do you think this was due to Patrick playing the role so well? Also, did anyone pick up on the voice change right before he killed Rachel's husband, when he said "No, not Patrick"?
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Post by Gg on Feb 27, 2006 9:30:39 GMT 8
hey you! How are all the animals??
you know the thing with accents is that, I think, at least if you're linguistically easily influenced (I plead guilty) that the accent comes really easily if you are exposed to it, particularly in your own family. I go back East and it gets pretty ugly around some of my cousins... but I lived in the SouthEast for a time and it was pretty easy to pick up, first the mannerisms, and then the regional accent variations, just because I think the exposure just sets up the synapses and all you need is a little phenomic recollection and you're in.
I saw Elizabethtown not long ago... Kirsten Dunst was great but she dropped her Louisville accent pretty darn fast. Still liked her performance.
BUT back to "Half Light" and our hero in the black shiny raincoat...
I took his voice change as he confronts his victim in the lighthouse as evidence of possession... that Patrick sees the ghost of Angus approaching, reacts with fear and cowaring, cut to that later scene and Angus has possessed him and plays out the homicidal/suicidal ritual that will find him peace.
I'm not sure which of the many advantages of Rachel you are referring to -- I agree that Patrick takes advantage of her for his own gain...
I think the ghost of Angus in the shiny black raincoat IS in fact standing on the balconey as Patrick is downstairs awaiting his cue to officially freak the hell out of Rachel and ruin her credibility -- necessary for the plot to work for all involved.
I kind of wished that we could've seen a picture of Angus (the literal)... but I said that already
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Post by Enjolras's Lament on Feb 27, 2006 10:49:26 GMT 8
I must admit, that shiny black raincoat was very alluring.
Moving on! Responding to the comment about Patrick's voice change after posession--although they did so perhaps to signify the change in Patrick, it isn't consistent. Wasn't the real Angus Scottish? Then why is Patrick's voice so...un-Scottish?
...Perhaps when the soul is devoid of a body, it loses its former, physical characteristics. Like how they say that when you go to heaven you get a new body and name. -nods-
And I personally did not find the hook through Brian horrifying at all. Didn't even blink. Then again, I'm used to watching films with people being disemboweled and such...
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Post by Gg on Feb 28, 2006 6:14:32 GMT 8
you just made me think of MacBeth...
"be bloody, bold, and resolute..."
I'm thinking -- yeah good piont -- Angus' ghost should sound like Angus' accent, not Patrick's -- but maybe you DO lose your accent in limbo -- not that it exists anymore...
or maybe it was as someone else thought earlier, that perhaps Angus is "evil" and it is the voice of the evil vengence of a demon we hear.
That idea makes me laugh though -- that would be an interesting question -- did you consider the accent in ADR?
so what is your favorite "people being disemboweled" film?
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Post by Enjolras's Lament on Feb 28, 2006 11:19:39 GMT 8
XD I was Witch 1 in Macbeth last year.
"Dubble bubble, toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron bubble. By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes!"
And now I'm a dancing chorus girl in Cole Porter's Anything Goes. Odd. o.O
Hmmm...my favorite "people being disembowled" film? Well, a more recent horror film that I enjoyed was Cabin Fever. Though, no disemboweling. Just people's flesh rotting away while they're still alive.
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Post by Gg on Feb 28, 2006 11:27:45 GMT 8
oow--yum--rotting flesh -- yikes
What a great role! I saw MACBETH last at the Globe in Southwark and the three witches were played by men -- one who had coincidently co-starred in "Stella" with Hans. It was an amazing cast and great to get a look at from the audience and behind the "curtain". I had a friend doing Desdemona there that Fall and it was great to get there -- never seen a bad show there!
Where were you?!
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Post by Enjolras's Lament on Feb 28, 2006 11:37:07 GMT 8
I've personally never seen the witches casted as males. Though I'd like too. Seems...interesting.
I actually performed Macbeth in the Cartersville Grand Theatre in Georgia, USA. -gags- The theatre's alright, moderate stage size, but the house is so TINY!
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Post by Gg on Feb 28, 2006 11:45:34 GMT 8
work is never bad though!
It was pretty amazing actually -- the guys were cheeky and creepy and great! At one point they donned goofy eyeball adorneds glasses with these thick black rims. It was so much fun! Lady MacBeth was beautiful and dynamic. When people were murdered they'd be holding a rock in their hands which they would drop. The globe is wonderful a place to watch Shakespeare (go figure!) and the contemporary, minimalist staging really made the acting the star of the show! You've got to get over there and take in a show. The tickets for the commoners court are CHEAP and the facility is amazing. My sweet friend had done Corialanius (my spelling is at all times lacking) off broadway and never wants to do Shakespeare in American again having now played the Globe!
but we digress...half light was it?
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Post by Enjolras's Lament on Feb 28, 2006 11:49:30 GMT 8
Indeed, 'twas.
SHINY BLACK RAINCOAT!
Ahem. It seems as though I have been possessed by a spirit of sorts, as well. -shifty eyes-
-mumbles about raincoats-
Oh, and taking a few steps back, I as well have been convinced that Hans Matheson couldn't cook fish to save his life. XD
Also, Half Light was the first movie I have viewed that reveals Hans as having facial hair. What do you think about it? To me, it makes him look somewhat French almost.
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