Tuesday, October 1, 2024

A FEW MORE WORDS ON EARWIG (2022) *UPDATED*

Hotel Monterey / Earwig

After repeated viewings over the last year I can say that Earwig has grown on me quite a bit. To be clear – I always liked the film but I didn’t consider it a "masterpiece" or anything like that. The bar was already set at “good” or “solid”. Just not great I guess. A lot of that has to do with its predecessor Evolution (2015). That film made such a huge instant impact on me that I put unfair expectations on the follow-up. But Lucile Hadzihalilovic’s latest is the definition of a rewarding slow burn, right down to some of it's slow burn influences (not every Earwig reference point is slow but she's always made it clear that Chantal’s slower paced films were an influence).

I don’t want to repeat myself too much (click here to read my initial thoughts). I Just wanted to share some additional influences I never posted in my original review and let folks know that what I once considered a “solid” film I now consider to be a great one…


One was JEANNE DIELMAN (1975), the Chantal Akerman film, because of all these ordinary actions that Delphine Seyrig carries out in the film and that our protagonist, Albert, also carries out - Lucile Hadžihalilović, BFI
Jeanne Dielman... / Earwig

Jeanne Dielman... / Earwig

Jeanne Dielman... / Earwig

Jeanne Dielman... / Earwig

Jeanne Dielman... / Earwig



A few more (non-Jeanne Dielman) Akerman-esque moments from Earwig...
Hotel Monterey / Earwig

Hotel Monterey / Earwig

Hotel Monterey / Earwig


The other one was The Embryo Hunts in Secret (1966) by Koji Wakamatsu. It’s a Japanese film from the 60s about a man who kidnaps a woman and keeps her in an empty apartment with no furniture - Lucile Hadžihalilović, BFI
The Embryo Hunts In Secret / Earwig

The Embryo Hunts In Secret / Earwig


I was influenced by Cronenberg -  Lucile Hadžihalilović, film comment
Dead Ringers / Earwig

Dead Ringers / Earwig

The Fly / Earwig


Another nod to Don't Look Now?
Don't Look Now / Earwig


This is one of the most beautiful films about the magic of cinema -  Lucile Hadžihalilović, Vice Magazine

The Spirit Of The Beehive / Earwig

The Spirit Of The Beehive / Earwig


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