Small Beans

527. Frame Rate: Mad God (Feat. Brooks Brown)

Oct 1, 2022
Brooks Brown, a curator of odd cinema and host of Deleuze reading groups, dives into Phil Tippett's experimental horror film, Mad God. The discussion highlights Tippett's incredible craftsmanship and explores the film's stunning visuals contrasted with its narrative complexities. They question whether the rich imagery conveys a coherent message or falls into a meandering tone poem. Themes of cyclical violence and moral ambiguity arise, alongside critiques of the film's pacing and production choices after a strong start. Brooks also promotes his Deleuze reading group for those intrigued by film and philosophy.
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INSIGHT

Craftsmanship Overplot

  • Phil Tippett's technical stop-motion craft dominates the film's strengths and creates moments of awe.
  • The visuals often outshine narrative clarity, making the movie primarily a sensory achievement.
ANECDOTE

Forced-Perspective Effect Memory

  • Brooks recalled behind-the-scenes practical effects like forced perspective and clever in-camera tricks.
  • He likened Tippett's ingenuity to the first Dune's practical map painting technique.
ADVICE

Stick To Your Visual Rules

  • When you value a film's craft, prioritize scenes that exploit that craft instead of switching styles midstream.
  • Preserve consistent visual rules to maintain immersion in a constructed world.
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