Blu-Ray Review: Movies Don’t Get Much Weirder Than ‘The Last Circus’

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CHICAGO – “The Last Circus” (more directly and appropriately translated as “The Ballad of the Sad Trumpet”) is one of the weirder choices you could make at the Redbox, Netflix queue, or wherever you plan to get your Halloween movies this weekend. What starts as a relatively straightforward but stylish affair about a love triangle between a sad clown, a happy clown, and the gorgeous woman caught in the middle gets totally strange when it essentially becomes about two horrendously mutilated clowns wreaking havoc. Weird in glorious ways, this is the kind of movie that screams cult hit even if it does take a bit too long to get going. When it does, it does NOT look back.

HollywoodChicago.com Blu-Ray Rating: 3.5/5.0
Blu-Ray Rating: 3.5/5.0

I’m not sure there’s another movie where a grown man kisses a plugged-in iron as part of his attempt to mutilate himself to the point where he’s always going to be a terrifying clown. Such is the action of Javier (Carlos Areces), a sad clown still devastated after his father, also a clown, was taken prisoner during the Spanish Civil War. While revenge for that weighs heavy on his mind, he finds a small circus and falls for the gorgeous Natalia (Carolina Bang). The only problem is that she’s married to the ‘Happy Clown,’ Sergio (Antonio de la Torre). Natalia strings Javier along until he totally snaps, beating the abusive Sergio within in inch of his life and running off into the woods. A mutilated Sergio and a self-mutilated Javier end this operatic tale in a series of increasingly bizarre and violent sequences that culminate in a fantastic set piece higher above the ground than any tightrope act.

The Last Circus was released on Blu-ray and DVD on October 18th, 2011
The Last Circus was released on Blu-ray and DVD on October 18th, 2011
Photo credit: Magnolia

“The Last Circus” is stylish as all Hell and the visual artistry on display make it well worth your time. Director Alex de la Iglesia (“The Perfect Crime”) gives the film such a unique, often-mesmerizing look that the flaws of storytelling are easier to forgive (although not always). And the performances are strong throughout, especially the strikingly beautiful Bang who is perfect as the girl caught between maniac clowns.

The Last Circus was released on Blu-ray and DVD on October 18th, 2011
The Last Circus was released on Blu-ray and DVD on October 18th, 2011
Photo credit: Magnolia

This is the time of year that produces dozens of similarly stale straight-to-DVD options for your Halloween dollar. “The Last Circus” is not a traditional horror film (it’s not a traditional film at all) but it’s dark and twisted enough to make a nice addition to your Halloween marathon. You’ve certainly never seen anything else like it.

Synopsis:
Javier, a Sad Clown, finds work in a circus where he befriends an outlandish cast of characters, including the brutish Happy Clown Sergio, who humiliates Javier daily in the name of entertainment. It is here that he meets Natalia, a gorgeous acrobat and abused wife of Sergio. Javier falls deeply in love with Natalia and tries to rescue her from her cruel and violent husband, unleashing Sergio’s jealousy. With neither man willing to back down, this twisted love triangle evolves into a ferocious battle between Sad Clown and Happy Clown, escalating to unbelievable heights in this absurd, shocking, irreverent and unforgettable film.

Special Features:
o Making of The Last Circus
o Behind the Scenes Segments
o Visual Effects
o U.S. Trailer
o International Teaser
o International Trailer

“The Last Circus” stars Carlos Areces, Antonio de la Torre, Carolina Bang, and Manuel Tallafe. It was written and directed by Alex de la Iglesia. It was released on Blu-ray and DVD on October 18th, 2011.

HollywoodChicago.com content director Brian Tallerico

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

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