Skolimowski delivers tour-de-force directing in Essential Killing. There is not much to the plot, about a man who is a killer to begin with, and is then reduced to a wild animal in a bout to survive the natural elements. Not all of the killing seems entirely essential, and in fact, it's a bit of a fantasy altogether. But it works on a visceral level, and Gallo does a good job.

Effectively this is the sequence found in many action films - the escape sequence in the woods - amplified as a film by itself and used to view the idea of survival regardless of what gets in the way, the point where a person becomes merely a primal being whose only emotions are to escape and sustain themselves. The result is a stunning work with a pitch perfect performance by Vincent Gallo and beautiful cinematography.

All these points were for the dogs and the horse.

Attractive cinematography fails to compensate for the fact the story means almost nothing (a man on the run is driven wild, kind of), and especially for the fact nearly every scene seems to involve characters behaving in illogical ways. Some scenes are downright absurd.

I don't know if that's what they meant by "Got Milk?"

Totally stripped of ideologies or political comments on war or post 9/11 fears, Skolimowski's Herzogian survival thriller, in a way, it's just a film about a man being hunted down, fighting enemies and nature to make it. Not a great narrative effort, but an engaging physical drama. Gallo is brilliant without saying a word.

Pretty good film, well-shot, but with some serious flaws. Reminded me of the vastly superior Czech film Diamonds of The Night.

I watched it at night, a good match.

the ending feels abrupt

This film's opening is promising, but after the first third it decides to spend its time addressing the metaphorical implications of misplacement and trees instead of moving forward with the narrative. The director may have some interesting ideas embedded in the latter half of the film, but it is so mind numbingly boring that I was personally unable to engage with them.

Taut, beautifully shot and almost without dialogue. Gripping yet poetic.

I think this is really quite good. Certainly not flawless but an engaging and interesting take on the subject matter. Gallo is excellent in the lead role, though very clearly Western-looking. I imagine it will get hated on a fair bit for being more existential than political, as well as its virtual plot- and dialoguelessness, but I think this is the best of 2010's "one-man's-fight-for-survival"-films. Gallo also gives Jim Carrey a run for his money when it comes to macking on bitches

I wished he would die already.

(2nd viewing) While Skolimowski's intention remains undoubtedly irrelevant and whose psychological musings add little substance to a narratively paper thin survival story, watching Gallo's character adapt to the Herzogian environment, to every unpredictable situation that crosses his path is what makes this film truly suspenseful. A film that should be viewed at night, preferably alone, as any distraction will have you ripping on the film's more boring, unintentionally funny moments.

ja nie rozumie%u0107 nagroda w Wenecja : /

Breathtakingly picturesque. The short bursts of action are captivating. More closure would have been nice.