When Black Birds Fly(DVD/ Blu Ray) — When Black Birds Fly(DVD/ Blu Ray)
The film is set in a dystopian & monochrome city called Heaven- where the citizens live a prim & proper 1950’s American life- following closely teachings of Caine- their self obsessed & egocentric leader. Near by the city is a wall that encloses a ultra psychedelic coloured, yet depraved & sexually violent world- to which two children from the Heaven city journey into. I won’t go onto detail the plot any more than this, as really this is a film best experience completely blind; as then the whole thing will come as even more of a head-fucking & sanity testing experience. I had seen the trailer before watching the film, and really that only just touches on both the depravity, searing psychedelic weird-ness, and ultimate drug ‘n’ sweat drenched nightmarish-ness of the whole thing.
The film comes in at just over the one hour & forty minute mark, and when going into this I worried it may be a bit of a length for an animated feature. But really the story unfolds in a well & balanced manner- moving from the controlled monochrome world, where no one is allowed to have sexual contact or un-pure thoughts. Though to eye scouring intense & ultra neon-bright world beyond the wall, where every sexual & bloody act possible is carried out.
The animation style is quite realistic yet stark in it’s portal of the people in Heaven city, with the mostly grey back drops of the world broken up with colourfully poster showing Cain, along with often offensive & oppressive texts. When we move beyond the wall, that world is wildly psychedelic & visually deranged- with bright neon green grasses, LSD pattern skies, and weird 'n' perverse monoliths. When the characters are in the beyond the wall world- their faces, features & bodies often melt, glitch & distort.
Sonically we get: A formal soundtrack which is a blend of sour & woozy ambience, with sudden jolts into more industrial & noise bound terrority. Along with some interesting sound design details- which mangers to deepened the more depraved & brightly deranged moments of the film.
Extras wise the DVD disc is fairly nicely loaded-with a informative commentary from Mr ScreamerClauz, and two chums connected to the film. As well a version of the film with cut scenes added back in. You also get a selection of shorter work from ScreamerClauz, and this is really even more deranged, perverse, & OTT…apparently his other work is more gore-bound & disturbing, than the derange yet often highly colourful worlds Where Black Birds Fly.
In summing up When Black Birds Fly is a totally deranged yet highly original animated feature length from Mr ScreamerClauz. And I can see that it will appeal to anyone who enjoys tripped-out, fucked-up, and weird film work- be it animated or other wise.