Carlson Young’s clumsy debut feature plunges us into chaos: The Blazing World is an incredibly messy patchwork overwhelmed by its visual ambition and scattershot directing.
As part of the NEXT Section of the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, we have attended the World Premiere of The Blazing World, in which Writer, debut feature director and lead actress Carlson Young fails, on many levels, at meeting her ambitious promise.
“The Blazing World” follows Margaret, a young woman haunted by the loss of her twin sister, who drowned in the family pool during her parents’ explosive argument. Returning to her childhood home, Margaret embarks on a journey to confront her demons. Despite its promising premise, first-time director Carlson Young’s film falls short, muddled in its attempt to merge horror and fantasy.
One notable aspect of the film is its ambition to create visually striking shots, each designed to be a captivating photograph. However, this focus on visual aesthetics comes at the expense of narrative coherence. The director’s pursuit of iconic imagery leads to a lack of visual consistency, making it challenging for viewers to follow the story. The film’s visual ambition seems unattainable both financially and artistically, resulting in messy and disjointed visual effects.
Another issue lies in the film’s chaotic directing, characterized by an excessive use of visual and stylistic effects. These choices undermine the narrative, particularly in horror scenes where ineffective camera angles and clichéd sound effects detract from the intended impact. The film’s tone remains unclear, further complicating the viewing experience.
The opening scene exemplifies the film’s directing flaws, failing to establish Margaret’s trauma effectively. Instead of focusing on her emotional journey, the scene becomes cluttered with disparate elements, leaving viewers confused about the film’s direction.
Additionally, Young’s performance as both director and actress fails to anchor the film, contributing to its overall lack of coherence. While the film is ambitious in its scope and visual presentation, it ultimately disappoints due to its inability to fulfill its promise.
In conclusion, “The Blazing World” falls short of its ambitious goals, resulting in a painful viewing experience characterized by narrative confusion and unconvincing performances. Despite its stunning visuals, the film fails to deliver a cohesive and engaging story, leaving viewers skeptical of its final outcome.
