What holds it together is the eerie black and white presentation, the use of shadows and practical effects.
The concept a mad scientist removing the faces of young women who look like his daughter to give her a new face is interesting.
What doesn’t work is that fact that skin grafts happen all the time.
And so we know the idea that the body would reject the skin is bullshit.
You never see any scars after, and the healing happens…
Holy smokes does Dahl’s writing fit with Wes Anderson.
This break neck speed dialogue and theatre staging WORKS.
Anderson has always had a flair for the recreating theatre on screen ( Rushmore and Astroid City )
But here he fully 100% embraces it.
Everything about this works.
And if this is the direction he’s going in the future, it’s only going to get better.
This is the film I wanted as a kid.
Full of that 90s fun vibe.
Great animation, super funny, and for the most part stands on its own.
Loads of Easter eggs.
And a great voice cast.
Still think this is criminally underrated.
The layers of this film are astounding.
From the small growth of the religious grass roots to full on church, with dress code.
The manufacturing and manipulation of people.
The layer of homosexuality under it all, that doesn’t get spoken till the end.
The acting by an all star cast awe inspiring.
The original score keeps you at unease.
And the cinematography allows you to just peek into the minds of the characters.
PTA weaves a masterful story that has more layers than an onion.
Each watch peels back a layer.
