Movie Review: Black ’47

Or just when you think things can’t get grimmer

By Bob Boldt

If you are ever looking for a bleaker Irish travelogue, look no further than Lance Daly’s 2018 Irish period drama film, Black ’47, whose title refers to the most devastating year of the Irish famine, 1847.

An unwatchably bad movie we actually watched

As the credits rolled following Douglas Buck's 2006 remake of Brian De Palma's "Sisters," my wife said, "That has to be the worst movie we've watched in a long time."
    "I guess we thought it had to get better, with Stephen Rea and all."
    "Even Stephen Rea has to eat."
    "The movie paid for a lot of groceries, I'm sure."
    I found a synopsis on the web:

Chloë Sevigny plays a driven investigative reporter who probes a renowned yet controversial psychiatrist (Stephen Rea). Her investigation soon discovers Rea’s disturbing relationship with one of his former patients Angelique (Lou Doillon), while a new romance blossoms between Angelique and a medical intern. After witnessing a brutal murder, Sevigny’s investigation brings her closer to the beautiful and enigmatic Angelique. As dark and violent secrets are revealed, Sevigny’s world begins spiraling out of control and she begins to question not only who she is but what her true relationship is with Angelique.

    "At least," I said, "we now know that a bad movie can get much, much worse at the very end. I don't find that out when I just apply the UBOO rating after a few minutes of trying to watch."
    "Which is fortunate for you....Don't we need to watch another episode of 'Desperate Housewives' before we go to bed?"