The Movie Room

Mala Noche 1988, directed by Gus Van Sant

Rating: 8/10

This is Gus Van Sant’s first movie made for super cheap in black and white and while it is not a perfect film, it is still great for what it is and what it presaged. Since this movie came out, Van Sant has continued to be a fascinating director, and it is clear from this that that was going to happen.

Despite being super cheaply produced with a bunch of unproven actors and crew, this film breaks through with a fantastic sense of purpose. It bears much of the hallmarks of a debut directorial feature, but nevertheless it shows the work of a man destined to become an auteur. The way that the camera captures the actors shows a real knack for what works in a scene and the black and white may have been cost-effective, but it is also beautiful. This feels like one of those movies that if it was shot in color would not have been quite as gorgeous (whereas I feel like a lot of modern black-and-white feels gimmicky, especially rereleases of color films in black and white). The romance here is definitely not a very romantic one but it is portrayed so sensitively and realistically despite the heavy stylization, which foreshadows the beautiful way that Van Sant would work with My Own Private Idaho and Last Days. His willingness to experiment is also clear here, and is (I think) more successful than it would be in his audacious Psycho remake.

At only 78 minutes, this movie is a very quick and easy watch, though I wish it was a bit longer. I love a movie that does not overstay its welcome, but this movie is so striking to look at and the characters are so fascinating that I wish there was more time dedicated to the complications in their relationship. I especially would like more time spent with Doug Cooeyate as Johnny, the Mexican guy that Tim Streeter’s Walt Curtis is fixated on. We see so much of Walt’s pursuit of Johnny and how obsessed he is, but I want more of how Johnny uses Walt to his benefit. Their relationship is extremely complex and it’s clear that neither is healthy for the other in any way, romantic or platonic, so I would have loved if they explored more of Johnny’s perspective. However, wanting more is always better than wishing for less.

As a first feature, this movie stands out for its assured direction and the promise of a great directorial future for Gus Van Sant, which fortunately has really panned out quite nicely. If you are in the mood for a quick hit, this is a fantastic option.