Censor

I had heard praise for Censor from the festivals, but after watching the trailer I had a bit of a hunch that this would not be my cup of tea, and it wasn't. Fortunately Censor has some sense and is only 80 minutes long, so it doesn't manage to bore you to the point of being annoying, tiring, and disgusting. In terms of horror, there is not much to stand for, the atmosphere is almost absent, there is no gore to be seen, except for one or two scenes, the suspense is missing and it is not even downright fun. On the other hand, it has a few good things. The story about a woman who censors films is quite interesting and offers an attractive look behind the scenes, it seems like a thankless job, a few old references (Deranged and I Spit on your Grave), and the retro style with colors reminiscent of giallo is also quite interesting; I also liked the nostalgia for VHS and video nasties, which will be especially appreciated by the older audience. What bothered me is that that we watch the main character watching violence in movies, but unfortunately we have to figure everything out, I hate that and take it as a provocation. All in all, it's a pretty decent and noteworthy affair that brought a slight breath of fresh air to horror, but at the same time doesn't bring anything for the viewer to cheer about. Story 3/5, Action>No, Humour>No, Violence 2/5, Entertainment 3/5 Music 3/5, Visuals 3/5, Atmosphere 2/5, Suspense 2/5. 5.5/10. (19/06/2021)

I've never been a fan of censorship, whether it's the former socialist regime's restrictions or today's politically correct censorship, which I find even more troubling. However, paradoxically, there are only a few movies that I believe might actually benefit from being banned. Still, I keep this list to myself because I respect that these films have their audience, and it wouldn't be fair for any censor, including myself, to ruin their enjoyment. Despite my reservations about censorship, I have to admit that I found Censor enjoyable, at least in the first two-thirds. However, the final act dragged on, and even the uncut violent scenes couldn't salvage it. Honestly, I found myself indifferent to the fate of the characters in the last third, and the lack of a satisfying climax left me feeling bored, ultimately tarnishing my overall impression of the film. / Lesson learned: When feeling queasy, try to breathe through it. 3*- (08/10/2023)

The idea of Censor is praiseworthy and well intentioned, but the execution is unfortunate. The course of the film is terribly slow and unexciting. Though it fulfils one of the logical outcomes in the end, it is also the least desirable and least satisfying aspect for viewers. Censor is a film that wants to analyse the subject of violence in films and its effect on viewers, made by a naïve filmmaker who can’t even flesh out an ordinary thriller framework, much less complexly express anything. Rather watch the more mature and creatively outstanding Barberian Sound Studio. (18/11/2021)

Censor has to be credited with a number of good things: from the performances to a fairly constant disturbing atmosphere, but I don't think it makes the most of its 70s and 80s video nasties premise. It's basically just a slightly spiced up classic story about the main character's descent into madness, which I find corny. (27/06/2021)

Great idea, poor execution. With a premise reminiscent of 8MM set in a community of movie censors, the movie seemed to promise a solid piece of entertainment. However, the whole thing got gradually bogged down in well-worn horror tropes and, more importantly, was mesmerizingly boring (and the movie is not even an hour and a half long). The tone of the whole production is also strange. Censor practically invited the audience to watch a movie that looks like it pays homage to the era of "video nasties". They could have made a clever movie about the controversy surrounding this phenomenon, especially the question of whether brutality in movies can impact the audience negatively. However, instead, they came up with the simple conservative conclusion that these movies are the product of eccentric freaks and have a bad psychological effect on the audience. That is not an homage; that is just a throwback to 1980s British movie censorship puritanism. (27/11/2021)