THE BLAZING WORLD

Director: Carlson Young
Soko's role: Margot
With: Carlson Young, Udo Kier
Release Date: 15 Oct. 2021 (US)
Length: 1hr 41min
Genre: Horror
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1

The film was written by Pierce Brown and Carlson Young.

CAST ---- TRAILER

On a summer’s day in the deep south, Young Margaret Winter endures complementary traumas. She and her identical twin sister Elizabeth are near the pool and are busy being fascinated by a jar of captured fireflies. Margaret is distracted by a noise which turns out to be a blackbird flying into the side of the house. The bird is beyond repair, but while there, Margaret peeks through the window and witnesses a violent altercation between her parents. By the time she returns to her spot by the pool, her sister has drowned. Two decades later, Margaret returns and finds herself drawn to an alternate reality in which her sister might still be alive.

Soko - The Blazing World
Soko as Margot

Brian Eaton reviewed the film for Geek News Network: "In true surrealistic fashion, much of the story is told through visuals and experience. Even before we enter this creepy underworld, the ambiance is very dreamlike. This mysterious figure serves minimally as a narrative guide once Margaret descends the rabbit hole, but exudes an aura so sinister and unnerving that he adds more to the perplexity than he subtracts...Even more astonishing is the set building. Every scene is intricately constructed to be its own work of art. Some are complemented with ominously beautiful orchestral scoring. Incredible expertise in the use of visual and auditory techniques is on display, each working together in effective, and often surprising ways, to create this creepy atmosphere, and keep the audience enthralled."

Director Carlson Young told Sarah Musnicky of Nightmare Conjurings: "The most challenging scene was definitely the neon box segment, especially when Udo comes into the space because there was a lot of logistics going on there, and deciding what needed to just what we needed to do to achieve effects and practical stuff to there. There was a lot of fancy footwork there. And then, just emotionally where the character is, that was really hard. I knew that it was going to be the most challenging part for me, because she just doesn’t have any more oxygen left in her brain at that moment. And so, it’s just this puddle of grief. Grief and shame and self-loathing."

The twins before the tragedy - The Blazing World
The twins before the tragedy

Cody Dericks reviewed the film for Next Best Picture. "Young clearly has a great appreciation for the horror classics," he wrote. "It’s not hard to spot references to 'Suspiria' and 'The Shining', whether in the film’s visual elements or just from its general atmosphere and configuration. Plus, the film’s stunning opening is practically a reimagining of the prologue from 'Don’t Look Now'. Said introduction is perhaps the most impressive part of the film. It’s perfectly paced, with editing that aligns with 'The Nutcracker' music underscoring the scene. It’s simply mesmerizing...It’s worth noting that 'The Nutcracker' is yet another tale of a young girl being transported to a magical otherworld. The half of 'The Blazing World' that finds Margaret [Carlson Young] in a similarly-warped alternate universe is unendingly creative and visually beautiful."

TRAILER

The Blazing Workd video thumb

THE BLAZING WORLD can be streamed on Amazon Prime Video.

The Blazing Workd poster

CAST