Horror Extreme Movie Catalog

Ganja and Hess is one of those movies that, if you have heard about, you have heard it discussed in the terms used by all the reviewers thus far. Throw all of that away. What this is... is art. The story is masterful, the acting nuanced and subtle, the over-arching story intriguing and the "twist" unexpected enough to leave your jaw hanging open as you understand what you just watched.

Many people call this film "confusing" -- however, it isn't confusing at all. It demands that the viewer make the same leap of faith we make when we read a text and simply "ingest" the action, the characters, and the narrative which is not immediately transparent. You are gonna have to work for it. Wait for it. Keep your eyes and ears open and really pay attention.

This movie does display some of the motifs of this era so there is full frontal male nudity, there are boobies of all body types, there is some stark reality, but this is one of those movies I would have loved to have watched as a young kid... but it is, perhaps, not for the youngun's.

James S. Hinton passed not too long ago and so it is really a joy to watch his cinematography... because it is true, this is an ESPECIALLY beautiful movie.

If you have watched too much Hollywood pap and have lost all sense of imagination, creativity... you should probably pass this one by because it is not giving itself to you the way in which you are used (i.e. it is not spoon-feeding you as much as leading you along a path, beckoning you to enter). However, if you remember and like some story with your entertainment, some meat with your movie, treasure thinking about the ways things happen: Watch this movie. You'll never thank yourself enough.

While this movie is termed "legendary", Ganja and Hess is one of those movies that are better in the ideas they present rather than the actual film. Ganja and Hess has its profound moments; it has incredibly intense and sensual imagery as well as a beautiful soundtrack but the plot is very unclear. I honestly don't blame others for wanting to edit the film because the actual storyline is hard to find beneath the dream sequences and the symbolism.
Ganja and Hess is thought-provoking, but flawed. That's all there really is to say about it. I do recommend watching Abel Ferrara's film The Addiction as a companion piece to Ganja and Hess, which explores some of the same ideas.