Films like Belladonna of Sadness.

Belladonna of Sadness (1973) reads as Heavy, measured, extreme drama / animation, surreal in texture. Nihilistic, mid-stakes, cold. Every film below is ranked by distance across the same twelve hand-scored axes — with what it keeps, and where it walks away. Not a genre dump.

Phase IV (1974) poster
1. Phase IV1974

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the patient, unhurried pace — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976) poster
2. The Man Who Fell to Earth1976

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the strange, dreamlike logic; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

The Keep (1983) (1983) poster
3. The Keep1983

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the patient, unhurried pace — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Videodrome (1983) poster
4. Videodrome1983

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the patient, unhurried pace — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Holy Mountain (1973) poster
5. The Holy Mountain1973

Keeps the patient, unhurried pace and the unmistakable directorial hand; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

Fantastic Planet (1973) poster
6. Fantastic Planet1973

Keeps the patient, unhurried pace and the unmistakable directorial hand; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

The Tyrant's Heart (1981) poster
7. The Tyrant's Heart1981

Keeps the patient, unhurried pace and the unmistakable directorial hand — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

El Topo (1970) poster
8. El Topo1970

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the patient, unhurried pace; trades toward a heightened unreality.

The Age of the Earth (1980) poster
9. The Age of the Earth1980

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the unmistakable directorial hand; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

Duelle (1976) poster
10. Duelle1976

Keeps the unmistakable directorial hand and the strange, dreamlike logic; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

The Shout (1978) poster
11. The Shout1978

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the patient, unhurried pace — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Alucarda (1977) poster
12. Alucarda1977

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the strange, dreamlike logic; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

These are Belladonna of Sadness’s neighbours — where are yours?

Rate five posters and the same twelve axes read you — then tonight’s pick comes from your own centre of taste.

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