MartinHafer
I do not understand the other two reviews for "Woodenhead" because I thought the film was pointless and unrelentingly ugly. I think if I had just stared at vomit for 90 minutes, I could have had a similar experience without having to trouble Netflix for the DVD.The film was made in black & white using what appears to be a hand-held camera. Oddly, when people talk, what you hear is absolutely nothing like it and the entire voice-track was added later. In most cases, lips don't move at all--you just hear the characters doing voice-overs like they are talking. It's also odd because there is a HUGE disconnect between what they say and what is. For example, often things are described as being magical but they are unrelentingly trashy and dirty.The plot is a bit like Hansel & Gretel merged with "Freaks" and "Deliverance". Gert works at a garbage dump and the owner tells him to transport his daughter, the Princess, to her wedding. However, along the way they get lost, lose most of their clothes, find a dumpy shack filled with food, have sex (YUCK) and are later attacked by freaks. Can this incredibly ugly couple survive the freaks who are out to hurt them? And, more importantly, does anyone (other than the two other reviewers) care?!As I already said, the film is pointless and weird. Some might like all this, as the film is repellent and kind of gross, so folks who think "Eraserhead" is great might also like it. As for normals, I cannot see any of them sticking with this film to the end. So what does that say about me?!
peterout
This is a beautiful fairy tale with a big heart but no morals. It's got an aesthetic reminiscent of European new wave cinema but an energy driven by the very un-European landscape of rural New Zealand. The locations are sublime and so is the way they're photographed. And the soundtrack is an absolute killer.I'm a fan of the fairy tale, but I've never seen one quite like this before. It's filthy and serene all at the same time. Brave, powerful and flawed - the way young people's films should be!There are hints of Fellini and other European new-wavers, but none of the 'civilised' connotations that go with the European setting. Woodenhead is all down and dirty, and apart from an accordion and references to Grimm brothers story lines, its soul is rooted very firmly in the damp earth of its antipodean location.This film made me laugh, almost cry and guffaw at its brazenness all in rapid succession about half a dozen times. How satisfying is that!A cult classic. I'll be watching what these people do next.
info-3310
I have just shown a bunch of students Woodenhead and I gotta say it's the most original film I've seen for a very long time! The whole soundtrack was recorded first, and the visuals shot to match ( and not match) after. The work of a mad man! Sublime, ridiculous, funny, disturbing, lush, innovative and moving. It's great. Absolutely beautiful shots - especially towards the end. Great music. And the characters - for being fairy-tale characters, it sure shows Habicht cares for them. Yeah, I'm really very blown away. I read that the film was inspired by a dream, where two rastafarian angels (Milli Vannilli) told the film maker he was to pre-record the entire soundtrack of his next film!