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skull_bearerThe gamers here might be aware of a game called S.T.A.L.K.E.R. They might not know that it was originally a film, called Stalker. Those who know this might not know that the film was originally a book, called Roadside Picnic (actually called something untypable because it was originally Russian and this keyboard doesn't do cyrillic).
By my still somewhat limitied exposure to all three types of media, THEY ARE ALL AWESOME.
I watched the film when I was something like fifteen, and I don't remember much except the intro and the vague feeling that I was watching something so incredible I couldn't take it all in. If you want to see what arthouse cinema can do when put in the hands of utter geniuses, watch Stalker. The entire film is run on atmosphere. Something like 75% of the film takes place in what looks like an old WW2 battlefield (for all I know, it was an old WW2 battlefield, the film was shot in 1979) just grass, bits of old tanks, and old buildings.
It is utterly alien, terrifying and generally all around worse than Galactus, Cthuhlu and three Reapers rolled into one. That is how good this film's atmosphere is. A fairly basic outdoor scene is made utterly otherworldly, and I can't pinpoint how it was done.
This is defintiely one of those films which to either get and spend your time in drooling awe, or don't, and wonder what the fuss is about, becuase if the atmosphere doesn't work for you, then it's pretty boring and nonsensical.
Also, for added creepiness, if you've seen the film, it's got a clear Chenobyl feel to it. In fact, one of the games was in fact called 'call of Chenobyl'. The film was made before Chenobyl.
By my still somewhat limitied exposure to all three types of media, THEY ARE ALL AWESOME.
I watched the film when I was something like fifteen, and I don't remember much except the intro and the vague feeling that I was watching something so incredible I couldn't take it all in. If you want to see what arthouse cinema can do when put in the hands of utter geniuses, watch Stalker. The entire film is run on atmosphere. Something like 75% of the film takes place in what looks like an old WW2 battlefield (for all I know, it was an old WW2 battlefield, the film was shot in 1979) just grass, bits of old tanks, and old buildings.
It is utterly alien, terrifying and generally all around worse than Galactus, Cthuhlu and three Reapers rolled into one. That is how good this film's atmosphere is. A fairly basic outdoor scene is made utterly otherworldly, and I can't pinpoint how it was done.
This is defintiely one of those films which to either get and spend your time in drooling awe, or don't, and wonder what the fuss is about, becuase if the atmosphere doesn't work for you, then it's pretty boring and nonsensical.
Also, for added creepiness, if you've seen the film, it's got a clear Chenobyl feel to it. In fact, one of the games was in fact called 'call of Chenobyl'. The film was made before Chenobyl.