Singapore Sling [DVD] [1990] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]
F**O
Wannabee cult movie
It's a bad-taste sex-comedy film-noir spoof (specifically of Preminger's Laura, but it's not essential to know that movie). It's about a mother and daughter who live alone in a villa, both mad, both murderers, and a private eye who comes to investigate a disappearance. Beautiful monochrome photography, reminiscent of Japanese cinema in places when we see the rain on the trees - it's a dark and stormy night every night in this neck of the woods.Comedy, horror, surrealism, (mostly simulated) sex, vomit. Yes, all the ingredients are there for the greatest cult movie ever made, but something is badly missing. There's some poor slapstick, there's a lot of dreadful acting by Meredyth Herold (but not dreadful in the way that made George Kuchar a genius), and the balance of ingredients is wrong - there really isn't enough sex in what wants to be a Fest but fails. Adding more and abandoning the simulation would have made the ending, which possibly inspired David Fincher, more shocking. In fact there is a tiny bit of frame-modification in this DVD (it says in German on the box), not that I can remember the original, but tiny would be the operative word. I'm sure it relates to the use of the strap-on, so it's a shame that was censored out.It would probably best have benefited if its plot had mounted in tension towards the end, but it develops and slows, develops and slows, and just as you hope something is going to happen, it nearly does. It gets there finally, but, it's, a, struggle.This film was billed by the Scala cinema as the new Thundercrack when I saw it in 1990. But I was disappointed then, and I'm disappointed now. A massive waste of potential. Even if it's "ok", I'm not happy that it's merely "ok", so how many stars do I give it? 2.9 rounded down works for me at the moment, but, like the other reviewer, you might easily love it, and I wouldn't hold it against you - it may be just a matter of personal taste. To resolve the doubt of some of the other reviewers; if you choose the English language option, the dialogue is in English with Greek (Sam-Spade-style) narration and English subtitles (although the cosmopolitan mother also uses the occasional French phrase).
A**N
What an experience!!!
God where do I start? Singapore Sling is a film like no other, if one had to make comparisons you could say its like "Death Game", "Salo" and "Mordum" mixed with god knows what and directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky, its hard to describe so bear with me. The basic plot is that a man looking for Laura, a private detective or officer of some sort, he has tracked her down to an old mansion, drunk out his mind he drifts in and out of consciousness as mother and daughter occupants of said house bury what was once the chauffer in the backyard, the daughter now begins talking to us the audience filling us in on how things are in this madhouse, she's either a brilliant actress or not right in the head, can't decide which, anyway our half drunk hero awakens, his intentions are to knock on the front door and discover what became of Laura who we suspect he is still seeking out for personal reasons, to go any further would ruin so much but suffice to say this film just isn't going to go down the convertional path, so many little quirks make it a novel and unique experience though I should mention some scenes are very graphic and disturbing. Strangely enough for all the darkness in this film its got a good sense of humour at times too, shot in black and white it at times feels like an art film at others a perverted piece of sleaze but whatever this thing is its good, really good! This DVD includes burned in subtitles for the few scenes shot in what the box says is Greek but sounds French (maybe I'm wrong) which aren't too clear or new clean one's put over them, there aren't really any special features but the film is special enough as it is, a must see purchase and my favourite new DVD of 2010!
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