Hypnotic Horrors and Maleficent Magnetism

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MOVIE REVIEW
Black Circle (Svart cirkel)
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Genre: Horror
Year Released: 2018, 2023 Synapse Films Blu-ray
Runtime: 1h 43m
Director(s): Adrian Garcia Bogliano
Writer(s): Adrian Garcia Bogliano
Cast: Christina Lindberg, Felice Jankell, Erica Midfjall, Hanna Asp, Inger Nilsson
Language: Swedish with English subtitles
Where To Watch: on Blu-ray September 5, 2023, from Synapse Films, order here www.synapsefilms.com, www.mvdshop.com, or www.amazon.com

FILMMAKER ON FILM REVIEW: You are getting very sleepy. Your eyes are getting heavier and heavier. You are sliding down a rabbit hole into a world where what is, is now “was” and what was is now
“what will be.” You are now fully entranced, relaxed, and ready to view the film BLACK CIRCLE.

When sisters Celeste and Isa find a strange record claiming to have the ability to lift away all of life’s problems for them, they follow its instructions, but what they find is something truly dark and disturbing. By listening to this record, they are put into a hypnotic trance that removes negative energy from them. Unbeknownst to them, though, the record is creating dangerous doppelgängers of them who don’t realize they are not the original girls. The strange phantom doubles essentially feed on Celeste and Isa the more they listen to the record, and if they can’t find a way to stop them, they’ll fade away and become shadows of their doppelgängers.

BLACK CIRCLE has some seriously unique and original ideas that are backed by some creepy subject matter; however, in its execution, the film failed to capture my adoration. Let’s start with the cinematography and camera work. The film starts with having you watch a hypnotic black-and-white swirl for about a minute before opening the first real shot of the film. This was neat because if you do follow directions and stare at the swirl when the first shot opens, it messes with your vision, giving the picture a wavy, dizzying effect of sorts. This is, however, the only real fun or standout effect done in the film. The camera work throughout used angles and drone shots that, while I believe were intended to make the mind feel woozy, like it’s still under a trance, were just jarring and uncomfortable to view.

The story is unique and original. There is much to be appreciated about it in this aspect, but it does sort of have trouble staying on task and seems to jump around a lot. It went from a creepy story about hypnotism to a full-blown science-fiction piece when telepathic psychics Victor and Selma are thrown into the mix. Sent by a mysterious being known as “The Supreme,” they can communicate telepathically with each other and are able to see other people’s doppelgängers. This is where the story gets a bit out of hand for me because “The Supreme” is mentioned a couple of times through the film and gets a brief explanation, but it never really gets expanded upon other than reasoning as to why Victor and Selma are present. It feels like they either forgot to include it in the conclusion of the film, or they were setting up for a sequel/spin-off with Victor and Selma. Either way, I thought it came sort of out of left field and detracted from the story as a whole.

The acting in BLACK CIRCLE is nothing to write home about, other than the standout role from the legendary European grindhouse actress Christina Lindberg (Thriller: A Cruel Picture/They Call Her One Eye). Lindberg’s character, Lena, is the daughter of the scientist who engineered the type of magnetic hypnotism that draws the negative energy out of the body and creates these doppelgängers. Lena is an incredibly strong woman who knows exactly what she is doing, but the character is also a conundrum of sorts because she seemingly has this supernatural ability to effortlessly hypnotize those around her. It is sort of confusing how she does this, and like the other supernatural aspects of the film, is only briefly explained and left for the audience to decipher.

Now, let’s discuss this new Blu-ray release from Synapse Films. Synapse is presenting BLACK CIRCLE on a high-quality 1080p Blu-ray, and it looks nice. This physical release also includes a soundtrack CD, and there is a limited-edition slipcover (limited to 1000), which is available from Synapsefilms.com and DiabolikDVD.com

Bonus Features included are as follows:
– Audio commentary with director Adrian Garcia Bogliano
– Original teaser trailer
– Don’t Open Your Eyes – Original short film
– Interview with Adrian Garcia Bogliano and Christina Lindberg
– Inside Black Circle – Behind-the-scenes featurette
– Still Gallery

Overall, I think BLACK CIRCLE is a great example of an original concept (which is seemingly becoming increasingly rare these days) with a failed execution. The film itself is detrimental to the ideas behind the film that could have made it a standout. However, I do believe there is some fun to be had here, but only if the audience goes into it, keeping in mind that they’re going to leave with an awful lot of questions.

[photo courtesy of SYNAPSE FILMS]

MY SAG-AFTRA/WGA STRIKE STATEMENT:
As an advocate for creators, actors, and writers, I firmly stand with SAG-AFTRA and the WGA in their current strike. The entertainment industry is built on these individuals’ extraordinary talents, and their contributions must be appropriately recognized and rewarded. They deserve fair compensation, sensible work hours, and respect for their creative rights. I believe in the power of unity and collective action, and I’m steadfast in my support for their fight for better working conditions and fair remuneration. Together, we can shape a more equitable future in the entertainment world.

#SAGAFTRA #WGA #SAGAFTRAStrong #WGAStrong