Puritan (2006)

Simply A Masterpiece

Awesome Movie

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Most commentators seem to like this, but I didn't. It seemed to me to be 90% of nothing happening and 10% denouement. The photography was laboured and unnecessarily monochromatic (mostly red/black). I guessed the identity of the disfigured man fairly early on and I think that most people will manage that. I love supernatural films but this was a real disappointment. I thought that there was no suspense and no character development. Also, I did not 'get' the ending. In fact, I couldn't engage with any of the characters at all. I've had to pad this out because of the rules but my summary would be: Quite boring with no resolution (yep - I'm one of those who likes a real ending! :-)

I think most of the reviewers on this site must have seen a different film to me as this is just a lame film noir tarted up with the odd mention of Hawksmoor and Crowley (mispronounced in the film). The Alan Moore/"From Hell" comparisons are totally unjustified, except in the rather simplistic thinks-it's-much-clever-than-it-is ending.The film is far too dark - almost everything is shot in red and black - the characters are dull and the story predictable. I had high hopes for this as a genuinely uneasy and different Brit flick (hell - just give me anything that doesn't have gangsters) but all the occult stuff is just window-dressing for what's actually a very straightforward film. Yes, it apes the mise-en-scene of "From Hell" - dabbles with its themes of cyclic time - and even has a lead character who could be Constantine from the "Hellblazer" comics - but it has none of the sophistication of Alan Moore's writing. Like I say, it wasn't lousy; it just wasn't a patch on how it had been advertised...

Hello all!I read about this film in Time Out, where it got a good review so decided to check it out for myself.I like to seek out films that aren't publicised that much, as in the past they are the ones that have inspired me most, as I am an independent film maker myself, and not that interested in the overall British film industry.It was totally worth it as Puritan is a very classy venture that has been fully realised in a very mature and precise way.The classic film noir plot line was instantly familiar to me, even though I am not an expert on them, the plot line was quite familiar which was the reason that it kept me on edge, because what I thought would happen never happened, or sometimes it did but not in the way I expected it to happen.The film is very moody and beautiful to view, they really have made the most of a low budget, sometimes the low budget is apparent but it still works and its still very beautifully framed, the use of scarlet red throughout the film was a particular favourite and very eyecatching.It really inspired me to to make my own films, and seeing that it was independantly made, it made me feel that I could accomplish what i want to do in the film industry.

I drove all the way from Birmingham to enjoy the Frightfest Festival over the bank holiday weekend, and I have to say I was disappointed with some of the films, there was a degree of childishness to them, but I was relieved to to see Puritan, as it was a real treat.I had planned not to watch it, as was starving, but then i thought I had to get my money's worth for the weekend pass I had gotten.So i sat down and watched the director introduce the film, and was really hypnotised by the lyrical beauty of this film.Its is quite poetic, intelligent and atmospheric to the hilt. I loved the very calm acting styles of all concerned, and the glorious visuals that encompassed this film.The similarities to Alan Moore stories I spotted immediately but that was a good thing, as its not really a Moore type plot, in that it was a thriller at heart, and not really supernatural, although there is that element to it. I just have to say i really liked this movie.Nick Moran held my attention as the fallen down hero who has to pick himself up again and start afresh, he has to purify himself, and the way in which that is achieved is incredibly shrewd and cunning.A Top Film!