DomiMMHS

This is probably only an idea of my disgust for the so- typically- 80s- feel of this movie. I've already written this somewhere in a forum. Today I discovered it per chance and thought it would make a pretty cool mean-spirited review. Here we go!

It's not UN-bearable, but it's so very un-funny, pathetic and self-indulgent. It really embodies everything that ever annoyed me about eighties movie making. It's like a manifestation of a sickness that has haunted movies like "Something Wild" and yes, also a lot of quite acceptable movies in the 80s. And, if this sickness has really existed in (and dominated) society back then, I'm glad I'm too young (19) to know.

Of course this review will tell you nothing except to avoid the movie. On my old scale I used to employ here, it has been a 4 out of 10. I'm revising my scale though because it doesn't feel accurate to me anymore. If a ***** is to be read as "mediocre", "Into the Night" has to be a ***!

I've only read "a few" reviews here (that is about 60) and well, and I don't know why people rant their souls out and almost kill each other for liking (more often) or disliking the film. It's neither somewhat revolutionary and unstandably truthful, nor is it stereotypical and fake, it's only good. But it's plain good, it's very very very good, actually. But that's all there is to it. It's very enjoyable, though the pace is rather slow, it's satire and the characters are intriguing.

I have to disagree with those who say the characters are one-dimensional, it's a lie. It's just that we are rather supposed to have fun with them than to examine their wounded souls until we can't sit straight because of the pain, if you know what I mean. (I guess I tend to express myself a little melodramatically, I'm sorry for that)

To start off with Lester Burnham, to all you stupids, he is not a pedophile! What are you thinking? In my world this word describes people who are very very much more disgusting in what they think and do, believe me. I don't think I have to go in further detail. Angela is almost adult, and she really asks for it... men lusting after her. She even says it herself that she likes it, and especially IF that's only the lie of an insecure little girl, the bitch shouldn't talk so big. Lusty Lester is what she gets in return for her behavior.

Much more than this bad word with a "p" some hysterical individuals apparently like to employ, Lester is a hero! Not because what he does is right or great, but because he tells all the jerks to p**s off and let him enjoy himself in his little ruts. He doesn't bother anyone so no one should bother him. He wakes up from his suburban zombie existence and finds something like inner peace. Two factors triggered this journey of Lester: his crazy infatuation with Angela, and even before that the absolutely unsupportable behavior of his wife, Carolyn, who is really such a jerk and such a phony.

Great performances by Kevin Spacey and Chris Cooper, and also the rest of the cast does very fine jobs. (It's good that Thora Birch is back!)

For what I wanted to express with my summary line: it's an all-American, all-Hollywood movie, but there's nothing of that typical Hollywood kitsch. Absolutely nothing! The emotions are rather restricted and true, and the dialogue is fantastic. Not those annoying "There is that guy and what does the guy do? He sees that door where you could ring the bell..." monologues that seem to be supposed to be cool. Only the things that have to be said, plus jokes that hit.

The amount of violence is okay, and for those who rant about the sexuality, vulgar language, teens smoking etc. (I've read some of the reviews from "Christian web sites" you can get linked to from here)... come on people, open your eyes! That's reality! Who of you thinks the 17-year-old kids in your neighborhood read the bible every evening before they go to bed at 9:30 and pray to the Lord above that they can keep their virginity until they marry?

Fine, the movie messes with the morals. But that's the fun about it. If not everyone would behave like such a jerk, no one would get hurt, believe me... maybe that's the tragedy about it. Well, I guess if all of us were like Lester it would all collapse. But on the other hand, if we all were like Carolyn we should all shoot ourselves. I hate her character, but I also feel sorry for her.

To draw a conclusion: it would be a nice change if things would have worked out for Lester. But why not dream. The tragedy of life is that there is so much beauty, but it's all bound to get so damn messed up. That's what the movie conveys in a very light and funny way and with very much irony of situation. It's hilarious, but don't look at it as intellectual or art. Just let Lester *rule* once in a lifetime. Rating: 10

In the beginning of the movie I wasn't so pleased, but what it became turned out to be not only one of those storylines told so fluently and conclusively that you can surely watch it again and again, but also really scary. I was kind of excited when I watched it (on TV), and afterwards I was shivering and couldn't stop.

A problem was that I had to watch parts of it with my mother in the room who kept asking questions like whether I don't believe this crap or whether this isn't pure s**t in every commercial break. But that's because she doesn't see that the movies is more than just your all-day pleasant neurotic romantic comedy. There are so many possibilities, among them getting scared, getting angry, getting disgusted. I love these unpleasant emotions in movies if only they are strong enough, and "The Exorcist" is disgusting and scares the crap out of you.

So I was stunned and caught myself thinking it was perfect, though there were innumerable things about it that bothered me.

(*) It's actually a very cheap means to create terror, having a little girl uttering the words "f**k me" repeatedly in a strange, masculine voice.

(*) The ending is way too fast to make sense.

(*) The horrible emotions the mother must feel with her daughter having become such a THING are a bit overlooked.

(*) and so forth.

But after all the movie is a horror movie and what it achieves is just great. The impact on the viewer's emotional state is devastating. All performances are superb, though I don't really see why Linda Blair received an Oscar nominee, but she wasn't bad at all.

The peak of insanity, that makes this a horror flick, is left for the last couple of minutes, before that the storyline goes through normal every-day issues (medicine, death), keeping the viewer interested and also with that certain quality of pain, anguish and spookiness. There's a great second storyline with the Ellen Burstyn character's Hollywood friends; and along with the terror comes some enjoyable ridicule on the Catholic Church.

Not definitely, but probably a 9 out of 10 in my mind.