The Fall of the Louse of Usher (2002)

A bitter old man attempts to recreate his youthful cinematic adventures with another romp through the failed corridor of Edgar Allen Poe. This should have been the opening line of any review that would have preceded anyone watching this horrid, disjointed mess of a, should I say it?, horror film? Being a fan of Russell's "The Lair of the White Worm", I was excited to see another entry into his cinematic cannon, another chance to spoof, be thrilled, and overall have that sense of campiness that only Russell can bring to the table. This is the same man that directed The Who's "Tommy" - would he ever lead me onto a unpaved path. Well, he did - with "The Fall of the Louse of Usher", a movie that seemed like it was made due to being bored on a rainy Sunday afternoon. With minimal budget, horrid script, and direction that made me think that a 5-year old was allowed to be cinematographer, "The Fall of the Louse of Usher" easily transformed into one of the worst films that I have seen.

There is a thin line between campy, could be cult, and just downright painfully bad, and alas, this film falls into the later category. With scenes where some of the production crew in the shot, special effects with strings attached, and a story that made no sense at all, it was surprising after my last Anime endeavor that I even finished this project. This was a movie that Russell should have been making in his youth, at a different time, this film may have been considered perhaps a early classic for a great director, but being made in 2002 (despite claims that it runs with some difficult themes and non-linear symbolism), it just felt like Russell was attempting to grab at an audience that didn't deserve this Russell. I am still introducing new fans to "Lair of the White Worm", and when you put these two together - merely for directing styles - it feels as if Russell has lost any bit of sanity known to man. Was he spoofing "The Benny Hill Show" or was it just a lack of control? Filmed in what seemed like his backyard, this may have worked as a student film (understanding that technical errors are common), but knowing that was Russell in front and behind the camera - it just crashed and burned, leaving behind no survivors at all.

If you haven't guessed it, I hated this film. Perhaps I am becoming more cynical as I continue to grow with my movie watching, but this should have been renamed to "The Fall of a Great Director". Russell seemed insane with this film, while his passion was obviously there - the final product just reeked of failure. Is this the last great Russell, his legacy to be remembered with this? Who knows, but I am going to be more nervous the next time the suggestion to watch Ken Russell comes up. Early Russell, no problem - into this decade .... BEWARE! A yellow mark with a black line, is what this film gets. Never to be watched again nor suggested to friends. What a waste of my time.

We miss you Ken Russell!