There are certain films in life that you desperately want to see. You obsessively track down a copy, you count the days until it arrives, and you eagerly look forward to the moment you can sit down and watch. Then, afterwards, you immediately establish that you never, ever want to watch it again. At least, that's how it went for me with regards to "Ghosts of the Civil Dead". Not because it's a horrible film, mind you. It's a unique film. It's a courageous, unforgettable and downright perplexing film, even. But once you've seen it, surely, you'll agree that you can't possibly "enjoy" a film like "Ghosts of the Civil Dead".
"Ghosts of the Civil Dead" marks the remarkable - to say the least - debut feature John Hillcoat, who booked recent commercial successes with titles like "Lawless" and "The Road". I find it fairly astonishing that he was even able make other films, because Hillcoat doesn't make a single or slightest concession towards any known commercial standards. It's a raw, dark, brutal, ugly and extremely disturbing prison drama/thriller that feels like a dystopian documentary, but actually isn't. In a very sober and nihilistic narrative style, and in flashbacks, the plot unfolds the violent and inhumanly cruel details which led to the total lockdown of the Central Industrial Penitentiary. The prisoners are gradually pushed to the limit, through provocation and humiliations, until they extract bloody vengeance against the guards. Nothing, absolutely nothing, in this film is taboo. There's explicit footage of drug abuse, rape, murder and agony. The sets are bleak, the music is depressing and there isn't a single, even remotely sympathetic character in the entire movie.
For me, it all started when I first found out that singer/songwriter, and overall multi-talented weirdo, Nick Cave was involved as co-writer and supportive actor! I've been a tremendous fan of Cave since I discovered the album "Murder Ballads" in the mid-90s. The character he puts down here is one of the most deranged, unhinged and terrifying psychopaths ever. Wow! As you can tell, I'm deeply impressed by "Ghost by the Civil Dead", but I honestly can't give it any rating higher than 6, simply because I felt the need to take three showers after seeing it.
"Ghosts of the Civil Dead" marks the remarkable - to say the least - debut feature John Hillcoat, who booked recent commercial successes with titles like "Lawless" and "The Road". I find it fairly astonishing that he was even able make other films, because Hillcoat doesn't make a single or slightest concession towards any known commercial standards. It's a raw, dark, brutal, ugly and extremely disturbing prison drama/thriller that feels like a dystopian documentary, but actually isn't. In a very sober and nihilistic narrative style, and in flashbacks, the plot unfolds the violent and inhumanly cruel details which led to the total lockdown of the Central Industrial Penitentiary. The prisoners are gradually pushed to the limit, through provocation and humiliations, until they extract bloody vengeance against the guards. Nothing, absolutely nothing, in this film is taboo. There's explicit footage of drug abuse, rape, murder and agony. The sets are bleak, the music is depressing and there isn't a single, even remotely sympathetic character in the entire movie.
For me, it all started when I first found out that singer/songwriter, and overall multi-talented weirdo, Nick Cave was involved as co-writer and supportive actor! I've been a tremendous fan of Cave since I discovered the album "Murder Ballads" in the mid-90s. The character he puts down here is one of the most deranged, unhinged and terrifying psychopaths ever. Wow! As you can tell, I'm deeply impressed by "Ghost by the Civil Dead", but I honestly can't give it any rating higher than 6, simply because I felt the need to take three showers after seeing it.