Twixt (2011)

The bit in between the dream and waking worlds. Twixt is written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. It stars Val Kilmer, Bruce Dern, Elle Fanning, Ben Chaplin, Joanne Whalley and Don Novello. Music is by Dan Deacon and Osvaldo Golijov and cinematography by Mihai Malaimare. Hall Baltimore (Kilmer) is a struggling writer of witchcraft based novels, during a book signing stop over in a sleepy backwater American town, he finds himself involved with evil, murder and Edgar Allan Poe’s Ghost. But just what is real here?... Twixt finds Coppola in relaxed mode, in the later stages of his film making career, he’s clearly made an adventurous movie based on a dream and personal instances. Very much operating in the realm of dreamscaping, both on visual and narrative terms, it’s an often silly picture yet one that still beguiles with its weirdness and daring visual touches. There’s also a good quotient of humour, both self aware and absurd, but if searching for a horror movie here you will be very disappointed. The Lynchian feel to it ensures it’s an interesting misfire, while the cast are all very enjoyable, but it’s not a film for a concrete recommendation. 6/10