Movie-a-Day Challenge: The Exterminating Angel

Exterminating Angel movie imageThis post is part of my movie-a-day challenge in which I will watch a film every day for 365 days. Today is Day 155! You can see all the posts for this challenge HERE. To see the original Movie-a-Day Challenge post, click HERE.

Hey there, friends!

Get ready for some serious weirdness today, because we’re diving into the surreal mind-bending world of Luis Buñuel’s “The Exterminating Angel” (1962). This movie is like a fever dream sprinkled with social commentary, and let me tell you, it’s a trip.

The plot is honestly a doozy. So we have a bunch of high-society folks in their finest threads gather for a swanky dinner party at a lavishly decorated mansion. Sounds pretty standard, right? Well, hold onto your hats, because things get weird fast. Everything’s going swimmingly – champagne flutes clinking, polite conversation flowing – until, bam! The servants abruptly announce they’re quitting and peace out.

The guests, confused but determined to party on. But after dinner, for reasons no one can explain (not even the smarty-pants types), everyone realizes they can’t leave the room. No doors are locked, no physical barriers… they just can’t seem to cross the threshold. Cue the existential dread and societal norms flying out the window.

What I loved about this movie is how Buñuel uses this surreal situation to skewer upper-class society. As the days turn into weeks, the veneer of civility crumbles. Guests start bickering over scraps, primal desires bubble to the surface, and things get downright feral. It’s both hilarious and disturbing – like watching a perfectly manicured lawn slowly transform into a jungle.

The actors, oh, they bring their A-game. Silvia Pinal, for one, is absolutely magnetic. Every glance, every line delivery is charged with this intense energy – she’s like a walking, talking electric storm. And the rest of the cast? They’re like this perfectly dysfunctional orchestra, each adding their own unique flavor of chaos to the mix. Watching them unravel, revealing their true selves under pressure, is like peeling an onion – tears included.

Now, I’ve gotta say, the whole vibe of the film is just… something else. Buñuel’s direction? Impeccable. The man knows how to craft a scene that’s both visually arresting and mind-bogglingly bizarre. And the cinematography? It’s like every shot is a piece of high-art, designed to make you lean in closer and think, “What the heck?”

But here’s the kicker – the film isn’t just a weird trip for the sake of being weird. Nah, it’s packed with this biting social commentary. It’s like Buñuel’s throwing shade at the upper crust, showing how thin the veneer of civility really is. And the title, “The Exterminating Angel”? Let’s just say it hints at some pretty dark, biblical-level reckoning.

Look, “The Exterminating Angel” isn’t for everyone. It’s weird, it’s uncomfortable, and it leaves you with more questions than answers. But for those who dig surrealist cinema and social commentary with a healthy dose of the absurd, it’s a must-watch. It’s bizarre, thought-provoking, and utterly unforgettable.

So, if you’re feeling adventurous and want to have your mind gently (or maybe not so gently) bent, check out “The Exterminating Angel.” Just make sure you have a metaphorical exit strategy in case you get trapped in your own surreal dinner party nightmare.

Peace out ✌️
Roger

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