Resurrection

1999 / Director. Russell Mulcahy.

Immediate criticisms of Resurrection are that its derivative of SE7EN. Of course it is, but that's not really a justifiable reason to dislike it... most films are derivative of other films. Resurrection is cut from the same cloth and I consider it the best of the Seven-esque movies. It tells the story of a serial killer who is strategically and methodically taking limbs from his victims so that he can rebuild the body of Christ. With the clock ticking it's a race against time to find the killer's motive, pattern and identity. Christopher Lambert reunites with his Highlander director, Russell Mulcahy, for this impressive and under appreciated psyho thriller. Mulcahy has always been a stylish director and he brings a wonderful aesthetic to this film. The colour scheme is well conceived and the use of light, combined with rain is done skilfully. With a great script, clever story and a genuinely creepy killer its slick, atmospheric and ballsy. Lambert serves up one of his better performances (he also wrote the story) and extra cred is lent to the project with Leland Orser and David Cronenberg staring along side him. How Cronenberg became involved is a mystery... I'll try to find that out. Resurrection was released too soon after SE7EN and I wish it had been given more attention at the time. So many films like it have come and gone over the years but this one easily outstrips most of them. It holds up very well. I am keen to organise a screening of this and perhaps invite some key creatives along to talk about it. So stay tuned. 

---