Robb’s review published on Letterboxd:
A harrowing trip into what Marx called the unconscious prehistory, a visual marvel of storytelling and craft, a disgusting, meandering nightmare. Mad God does not concern itself with such boring repetitions as a conventional plot or dialogue, instead opting to transform the film viewing experience into an illusory assault on the senses. You could probably write a full college dissertation on the imagery and allusions that fill every scene and backdrop of Mad God. There’s some familiar elements of apocalyptic cyberpunk, the Old Testament, and The Divine Comedy at play. The horrific imagery is, at times, reminiscent of the equally, if not more disturbed, Aleksei German film Hard to Be a God. The jittering stop motion pairs well with such a fallen world.
This is ultimately Phil Tippett’s version of The Neverending Story. Hell, you could title this the Neverending Story of Misery. Pretty good chance I write a longer review comparing the two in more depth. A cycle of mans failed evolution beyond outright destruction, cruelty, and exploitation. It’s no coincidence that a major part of this film revolves around endless drones of faceless workers in unsafe conditions being obliterated for profit, their remains being transfigured into literal gold and the ever growing development of death. Also, the baby that’s taken out of the first assassins body is definitely a nod to Eraserhead.
More than a little messy, and will certainly be a tough watch for some for a multitude of reasons, the artistry on display more than warrants attention and praise.
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