AllMovie

Any Guy Maddin film is a unique experience, and Brand Upon the Brain! is no exception. In its initial theatrical engagements, the film was shown as a silent movie, accompanied not only by a live orchestra but by rotating on-site narrators and sound effects pros. Even without those extras and with prerecorded sound effects, score, and narration (by Isabella Rossellini), Brain remains a remarkable piece of cinema. True, not every viewer will get "into" the film -- there's a reason Maddin remains a cult filmmaker, after all. But Brain may be more accessible than many of the director's other films. Yes, the story it tells is still somewhat confusing and off-putting; it continues to challenge viewers on a number of levels, both in terms of meaning and the emotions it evokes. However, Brain is also a tremendous amount of ghoulish fun, and its genre leanings -- horror, teen sexuality, amateur sleuth, etc. -- provide some familiar guideposts that keep an audience member fairly secure. Some viewers will still be turned off by the florid style that Maddin imposes on his actors, and the sometimes shatteringly fast cuts and the general jumpiness of the scenes will also detract some. But those who commit to Brain will be dazzled with the results, as Maddin continues to make a case that grainy black-and-white can qualify as achingly gorgeous. Overflowing with imagination, Brand Upon the Brain! is also that rare "artsy" film that is also fun -- and that by itself should win over many admirers.