Salome (1973)

the audience applauded

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

"Salome" is a British black-and-white short film from 1973, so this one has its 45th anniversary this year and it runs for approximately 18 minutes and was the first filmmaking credit by Clive Barker who went on to have a successful career afterward and who was around the age of 20 when he made this. The basic story is from a play by Oscar Wilde (that Barker adapted), but I must admit I really had no clue what was going on here at all. Quite strange. Some nudity in here too, so not for young audiences, but they probably would not be interested in this anyway given the plot, tone and general take by Barker. It is somewhat disturbing this comes from such a young man. Anyway, I guess the last decades show that he managed to step things up. Back to this one here, the audio side, i.e. the music, was maybe slightly better than the video, but nothing special either. I can only say I was quite underwhelmed by this one and it is even worse than the mediocre "The Forbidden" Barker made a few years later and these two are often shown together. Anyway, I must give this one here a huge thumbs-down and I am glad it was this short. Only good thing is you can watch it without subtitles in any case as nobody's talking regardless what languages you speak. But why would you? It's the opposite of an aesthetic means and it also is never as shocking as you want a horror film to be. Skip this one and go for one of Barker's later and better works instead.

Salome is one of two short films that horror writer Clive Barker directed before he went on to make the cult classic 'Hellraiser'. While you cant go into a short film expecting the likes of Hellraiser, Clive Barker does deliver an interesting spectacle with this film and, like many director's pre-hit short films, you can see some early signs of the man's later work in this film. Salome only runs at about twenty minutes, and it has no dialogue; so the plot is non-existent. This doesn't matter, however, as it is the imagery and atmosphere that is important; and Clive Barker, even with only twenty minutes to play with, more than succeeds in impressing on that level. The action takes place in a dank abyss, and through the dark atmosphere and empty surroundings, Barker is able to show this. While this film doesn't have enough about it to aptly call it 'good', by the same standards; it's not bad either. Fans of Hellraiser will enjoy the film for it's style, and fans of atmosphere will find lots to like also. Salome isn't worth going out of your way to see; but if you come across a copy, it's well worth seeing.

Grainy 8mm black & white short film, without any dialog. (An ambient-type soundtrack has been dubbed in.) Basically a filming of sections of Oscar Wilde's "Salome" but without audible dialog it's a little tough to follow. The cast are quite young and the main actress appears in contemporary garb. Although the film is made quite cheaply, the elements of macabre eroticism that would figure in Clive Barker's later work are evident. Recommend for fans of Clive Barker, this is not a feature-quality production but has it's moments while it lasts.As a note, the DVD version of this film also contains another weird Barker short ("The Forbidden") with graphic and bizarre content that seems like an early rough draft for "Hellraiser". There is also an extensive Barker interview, as well as a ridiculous promotional into with an Elvira-type topless vampire hostess drooling blood all over other unclad ladies. For value to Barker fans and the fact that it sticks in one's head, 6/10 Non-Barker fans would likely find it a 3/10

Seen several times (what it takes, I think, to get used to the strange mood of the movie), it never gets rid of its inherent "malhabilities",but one cannot deny that it gives a very strong insight in what the director/writer would do once famous. Visually and narratively weird and unsettling, it has a violent and memorable visual identity, which makes it instantly recognizable. This does not make it good (I don't think anything can), but it is nevertheless a must-see for any Barker fan. Treat yourself, it is available on video and DVD !