Mandy (2018)

Mandy (2018) - Nicolas Cage
Mandy (2018) – Nicolas Cage

Mandy movie storyline. 1980s Shadow Mountains. Secluded from the rest of the world, quiet lumberjack Red Miller and Mandy Bloom, his gentle artist girlfriend, try to live a peaceful life in the bosom of a perpetually cold and gloomy forest.

And then, the blissful couple has a fateful encounter with Jeremiah Sand, the drug-addled spiritual leader of the delusional Children of the New Dawn cult. As cruel misfortune leads to pain and sacrifice, the LSD-ridden biker gang of the Black Skulls robs Miller of his happiness, pushing him on the verge of insanity. Now Red’s razor-sharp battle axe craves revenge, and no force on Earth can stop them. But can blood appease the restless dead?

Mandy is a 2018 action psychological horror film directed by Panos Cosmatos, produced by Elijah Wood and co-written by Cosmatos and Aaron Stewart-Ahn based on a story Cosmatos conceived. A co-production of the United States and Belgium, the film stars Nicolas Cage, Andrea Riseborough, Linus Roache, Ned Dennehy, Olwen Fouéré, Richard Brake, and Bill Duke.

It premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival on January 19, and was theatrically released on September 14, 2018 by RLJE Films. Mandy was praised for its style and originality, Cage’s performance, Cosmatos’ direction, and the action sequences. It is one of the last films scored by Icelandic composer Jóhann Jóhannsson, who died in February 2018. The film is dedicated to him.

Mandy (2018) - Andrea Riseborough
Mandy (2018) – Andrea Riseborough

About the Story

In 1983, in the Pacific Northwest, recovering alcoholic war veteran lumberjack Red Miller lives with his girlfriend, artist and author Mandy Bloom, who had an abusive childhood. Mandy works as a gas station cashier by day and at night creates elaborate fantasy art, which Red greatly admires.

While walking to work, Mandy catches the attention of Jeremiah Sand, leader of the religious cult Children of the New Dawn. Sand orders his disciple Brother Swan to kidnap Mandy. Swan summons the Black Skulls, a cannibalistic, demonic biker gang that regularly consumes LSD.

After being offered a cult member as a sacrifice, the gang breaks into their home and subdues Mandy and Red. Cultists Mother Marlene and Sister Lucy drug Mandy before presenting her to Sand. The cult leader attempts to seduce Mandy with his psychedelic folk music, but she just laughs at Sand, infuriating him. In retaliation, Sand stabs the bound and gagged Red and burns Mandy alive before him. After Sand and his followers leave, Red frees himself, mourns Mandy’s death, and, after consuming a bottle of vodka, wordlessly swears revenge.

The next morning, Red visits his friend Caruthers to retrieve his crossbow and bolts. Before Red leaves, Caruthers warns him of the Black Skulls; Red reinforces his determination by forging a battle axe. He shoots a biker with his crossbow and runs him down, but the biker crashes his car and Red is captured in the process. At their hideout, Red breaks free from his restraints and kills the rest of the bikers. As he investigates their hideout, he ingests some of their drugs, causing him to instantly and severely hallucinate.

Mandy Movie Poster (2018)

Mandy (2018)

Directed by: Panos Cosmatos
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Andrea Riseborough, Linus Roache, Ned Dennehy, Olwen Fouéré, Richard Brake, Bill Duke, Line Pillet, Clément Baronnet, Alexis Julemont, Hayley Saywell
Screenplay by: Panos Cosmatos, Aaron Stewart-Ahn
Production Design by: Hubert Pouille
Cinematography by: Benjamin Loeb
Film Editing by: Brett W. Bachman
Costume Design by: Alice Eyssartier
Set Decoration by: Ilse Willocx
Art Direction by: Antoine Collignon
Music by: Jóhann Jóhannsson
MPAA Rating: None.
Distributed by: RLJE Films
Release Date: January 19, 2018 (Sundance), September 14, 2018 (United States)

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