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For the best of the Horror/Cult/Exploitation film experience
El Topo (1970)
There are plenty of films out there that are considered "Epic". Many of them are fantasy films in a land far far away, are set in space, or have some kind of grandiose budget beyond anything imaginable. Although I won't say that "El Topo" is an epic in the traditional sense, I would call it an epic of the mind. It's one of the most original and avant-garde pieces of celluloid that I've ever laid my eyes upon. It's impressive, gut wrenching at times, and certainly is well crafted. Director Alejandro Jodorowsky is one of the most intellectual filmmakers of the history of film and this film is a great example of how. For those who have never heard the story, the film was actually released to a larger audience because of a fan of the film pushing hard for it. He called a producer friend that he had and mentioned to him about getting the rights to it because he was so impressed. The producer did so and "El Topo" was distributed as one of the first films with the "Midnight Movie" tag on it. It should also be mentioned that the fan of this film that basically was responsible for it's release would be well known for some things himself. His name was John Lennon.
It's hard to really give anyone a sense of what the plot of this film is because it's pretty complex. If I had to some it up in a neat little package, this is what it would be. It's the story of a gunfighter on the search for personal and spiritual enlightenment. It happens that he is going through a desert area to match his skills with some of the best known gunfighters that the place has to offer. He feels that if he can defeat them all, that he will further himself on the path to said enlightenment. Now, I'm not saying that is as clear cut of a plot as the movie has, but that's about as good as I can do it. Now I know you are probably thinking right now, what is so original about that? Well, lets just say that isn't all there is to the story. The movie is more a collection of strange occurrences to go along with the gun fighting story and just when you think you know all of the answers, Jodorowsky changes all of the questions. There are a lot of examples of spirituality and faith, and the effect that it has on the people that are submerged in it. On top of everything I just said it's a film that is pretty exploitive in nature as well, in my opinion making it a lot more effective. You see things such as implied incest, castration, animal cruelty, sexual humiliation, blasphemy, biblical miracles, child death, rape, and much more. But the thing that makes "El Topo" is the fact that there is much more on display here than simple exploitive tactics.
It's hard to picture any film surpassing the technical prowess of "El Topo". The set design was incredible, Rafael Corkidi's cinematography was impeccable, the gore effects was impressive even by today's standards, and the story itself was consummate. It also deserves a mention that not only did Jodorowsky direct the movie, but he also starred, and wrote it as well. I think it's a safe bet to say that if the world had more Jodorowsky's we'd be much better off in the current landscape of filmmaking.
I honestly can't say enough good things about "El Topo" as the film was extremely powerful in almost every regard. It's flawless from start to finish and it's one of the most creative exercises in filmmaking that I've ever seen. I give Jodorowsky a lot of credit for having the balls to make a film like this as the importance of great art can never be taken for granted. I cannot stress how much I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this film. It's guaranteed to blow your mind and really show you how much of an art form moviemaking can really be.
Rating - ****
-Ed Demko
