Beyond The Black Rainbow (2012)

46% of critics liked it
(26 reviews)
54% of users liked it
(2,490 ratings)

Set in the strange and oppressive emotional landscape of the year 1983, Beyond the Black Rainbow is a Reagan-era fever dream inspired by hazy childhood memories of midnight movies and Saturday morning cartoons. From the producer of "Machotaildrop," Rainbow is the outlandish feature film… More Set in the strange and oppressive emotional landscape of the year 1983, Beyond the Black Rainbow is a Reagan-era fever dream inspired by hazy childhood memories of midnight movies and Saturday morning cartoons. From the producer of "Machotaildrop," Rainbow is the outlandish feature film debut of writer and director Panos Cosmatos. Featuring a hypnotic analog synthesizer score by Jeremy Schmidt of "Sinoia Caves" and "Black Mountain," Rainbow is a film experience for the senses. -- (C) Magnet

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Directed By: Panos Cosmatos
Genres: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Horror

In Theaters: May 18, 2012 Limited
Studio: Magnolia Pictures

Critic Reviews

William Goss, MSN Movies
There's much to admire about Panos Cosmatos' directorial debut, but the end result is admittedly not for all tastes.
Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald
The movie looks like it was lit by lava lamps, scored on Moog synthesizers, written between bong hits and acted underwater. None of this is meant as praise.
Mark Feeney, Boston Globe
"Beyond the Black Rainbow" has a doomy, dreamy, druggy, draggy feel that's impressively sustained - until it becomes oppressive, then pointless, then laughable.
Linda Barnard, Toronto Star
Much of the time, watching Beyond the Black Rainbow is accompanied by head scratching, but perhaps that's the point of this trippy outing.
Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times
Close-ups of a needle penetrating gnarled toes and a mutant slathered in what I choose to believe is bittersweet chocolate make as much sense as the scary drawings of angry vulvas hiding in a drawer.
Lou Lumenick, New York Post
This would-be cult classic is the movie equivalent of gazing at a lava lamp for nearly two hours.
Amber Wilkinson, Eye for Film
The rich and strange debut of Panos Cosmatos throbs with style and portent, which proves a winning combination even if it is somewhat light in the narrative department.
Simon Foster, sbs.com.au
Audiences who appreciate oddball first efforts from talents such as Lynch (Eraserhead), Cronenberg (Shivers) and Jeunet (Delicatessen) will be thankful.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
If you follow the muddled spacy film's logic throughout, you deserve a merit honor badge for devotion to service beyond the call of duty.
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
Nothing much happens in this experimental-type science fiction horror film. What little does happen is at a slow-motion snail's pace.
Rob Humanick, Projection Booth
If 2001: A Space Odyssey had an evil twin masquerading as a horror film, this would be it. Beyond the Black Rainbow culls from untold volumes of film history even as it delivers its own uniquely brilliant freak-outs.
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures
a twisted version of 2001: A Space Odyssey which takes place in a psychological torture chamber rather than in the whole of the universe
Jaime N. Christley, Slant Magazine
Pure style carries Beyond the Black Rainbow considerably farther than many reviewers gave it credit for.
Witney Seibold, CraveOnline
The product of a fevered mad auteur... May prove to be one of the more rewarding and disturbing film experiences in many a year.
Dan Lybarger, KC Active
While never quite dull, 'Beyond the Black Rainbow' doesn't achieve all the chills it's capable of.
Inkoo Kang, Boxoffice Magazine
'Beyond' would be more interesting with limitations.
Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle
Comprehensibility does not appear to be one of this writer/director's goals, but if someone is able to help Cosmatos marshal his raw visual talent, I'll be first in line to see his second film.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
[VIDEO ESSAY] Yes, this movie is even worse than "Battlefield Earth."
Todd Jorgenson, Cinemalogue.com
It's pretentious and definitely not for all tastes.
Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com
The feature is extraordinary to watch, offering delirious visions that hypnotize and repulse, with distinct Cronenbergian encouragement that merges the magic of thought with the puzzle of flesh.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Greg S

A mute telepathic woman is kept prisoner in a mysterious pyramid-power institute in the Reagan era in this slow paced, visually trippy pseudo-surreal sci-fi effort. The style over substance aesthetic wears a little thin by the end, but every year should feature a film explicitly… More
A mute telepathic woman is kept prisoner in a mysterious pyramid-power institute in the Reagan era in this slow paced, visually trippy pseudo-surreal sci-fi effort. The style over substance aesthetic wears a little thin by the end, but every year should feature a film explicitly designed to accompany an acid trip, and this was 2012s best option.
Everett J

There are three movies that I have watched in my lifetime that I can honestly say, I have no clue what it was about, and you really need drugs to understand. "Muholland Drive", "Tree of Life", and now "Beyond the Black Rainbow" make up a trilogy of… More
There are three movies that I have watched in my lifetime that I can honestly say, I have no clue what it was about, and you really need drugs to understand. "Muholland Drive", "Tree of Life", and now "Beyond the Black Rainbow" make up a trilogy of movies that will scramble your brain, leave you scratching your head, and when it's over say "Why did I watch this?" This is some psychedelic horror/drama about a crazy Dr. with a patient who has mind powers, I think. I don't know really, you just need to watch for yourself. I saw the trailer for this last month on a show called "Nothing but trailers" and thought it was the weirdest/craziest trailer I ever saw, and had to watch it. Well, I watched, and I'm still left with zero answers. The only reason I give this 2 stars is because there are 2 things about this movie I really did like, and fans of horror movies will like(won't understand, but will like). The score is probably the scariest music you will ever hear in a movie, and it's all synthesizer type music that will literally give you chills. The second, the Dr. is the creepiest character I have seen in a long time. People tend to fear what they don't understand, and in that regard, he is one scary mofo. You may not get anything in this movie, but you will be creeped out by him, I promise! If you want a movie that will creep you out, then check this out, just don't expect to know what is going on, or understand any of it. If you do get it, please hit me up and let me know, because I didn't get it at all, and I usually get these types of movies.
Nicki M

I could not do spoilers on this film if I wanted to - I could barely follow it. I suspect that was the whole idea of it. There were things I liked about it - I liked the look of the film, it had a very 70's feel (though it is a recent movie), I think it was set in the past, but… More
I could not do spoilers on this film if I wanted to - I could barely follow it. I suspect that was the whole idea of it. There were things I liked about it - I liked the look of the film, it had a very 70's feel (though it is a recent movie), I think it was set in the past, but not even sure on that, quite honestly. I kept thinking all the way through, this would make a good music video! As a movie, though, excruciatingly slow with no real payback at the end. You will likely have more questions than answers. Movie looks great and liked the soundtrack, but it's a long and frustrating two hours.
Francisco G

Like a wet dream of Jodorowski, Cronenberg, Lynch and Kubrick's 2001 combined into one, with a distinctive creepy sci-fi movie vibe hailing from the 70s Russia. It's pretty wonderful to look and listen to while it lasts and has a creepy aura surrounding the odd narrative… More
Like a wet dream of Jodorowski, Cronenberg, Lynch and Kubrick's 2001 combined into one, with a distinctive creepy sci-fi movie vibe hailing from the 70s Russia. It's pretty wonderful to look and listen to while it lasts and has a creepy aura surrounding the odd narrative but I'd be lying if once the novelty is gone, it overstay's it's welcome. And how soon the novelty will start to disappear will depend a lot on the type of viewer for sure.

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Cast

Michael Rogers
as Barry Nyle
Eva Allan
as Elena
Scott Hylands
as Mercurio Arboria
Marilyn Norry
as Rosemary Nyle
Rondel Reynoldson
as Margo
Geoffrey Condor
as Mutant
Chris Gauthier
as Fat Hesher
Gerry South
as Skinny Hesher
Roy Campsall
as Sentionaut, Sentionauts
Eva Allen
as Elena
Geoffrey Conder
as Mutant
Ryley Zinger
as Sentionaut

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Beyond The Black Rainbow (2012)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Greg S

Everett J

Nicki M

Francisco G

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