Review of Benedetta (2021) by Jluis_001 — 23 Dec 2021

I can't help but wonder how does it work when a film is trying in every possible and obvious way to be provocative and disruptive, and yet fails to achieve that goal for the simple but crucial reason that the viewer is simply not impressed or shocked by it?

Therefore, another important question arises: Are its qualities more valuable to viewers who are shocked by its subject matter and images?

And if so, is that a strength of the film for those viewers, or a weakness for others like me?

I'm confused.

Paul Verhoeven delivers a sufficiently polished film. Especially in its visual aspects, even in the face of the apparent simplicity of its mise-en-scène but basically its qualities outside of that, neither provoke a real reaction, nor say anything noteworthy.

Or at least I admit it didn't in my case.