Visions of Suffering DVD Review

An un-named man (Alexander Shevchenko), wanders confused through a bleak woodland in the pouring rain. White spuming matter oozes from trees and black, undulating spider-like creatures writhe amongst the branches. This is a dream world which haunts the young man, every time it rains he has nightmares that seem so very real. The telephone engineer (Victor Silkin) comes to his apartment to fix his phone and tells him of Vampires, whose voices can be heard in the wires, and warns him to be careful lest they discover him, for then he would have to face them.

His girlfriend (Alexandra Batrumova), who is waiting for him at a night club called Delirium, passes the time by getting stoned. A priest (Andrey Iskanov), who is also tormented by nightmares, goes to Delirium to buy acid and escape his dreams. A young man (Svyatoslav Iliyasov), pays to beat seven shades of faeces out of a willing young lady (Irina Nikitina). Meanwhile, the Vampires have discovered our man back at the apartment, and the other characters seemingly unconnected lives are drawn into an ominous, chimerical world of drugs, nightmares and slaughter.

Originally called Angst, Visions of Suffering is an illusory nightmare from Russian writer and director Andrey Iskanov. Andrey had working alongside him a team of talented individuals who helped bring his vision to life and create a work of art that scorns the restraints of financial impediments. Considering that this film was made in the far east of Russia, where the average salary is way below Western European and American standards, and where independent film makers are given zero encouragement and respect, this is a monumental achievement. The attention to detail is remarkable, Andrey has the eye of an experienced photographer who can transform even the most fleeting of moments into a memorable creation. This is a film that explores man’s relationship between the phantom realms of dreams and the tangibility of our corporeal existence, and the fragile veil that separates the two.

The performances are honest and natural, adding plausibility to the ambiguous world of Visions of Suffering. Alexander Shevchenko is outstanding as the tormented main character and Victor Silkin’s brief role is notable. The stunning Alexandra Batrumova captivated me and Andrey Iskanov himself , as the unsettled Priest, is believable.

Those seeking gore and violence will not be disappointed by this work, although there is an awful lot more to it than that. The bloodletting doesn't begin in earnest until later on in the film, but when it does it’s quite relentless and the sadism on display is very satisfying. If, like myself, you are beguiled by surrealism, then this movie delivers strangeness in spades. Ugly fish sandwiches, curious forest dwellers and corpse-lovin’ vampires provide plenty of head-scratching moments.

Visions of Suffering is an unique film that defies categorization, and gives those craving true creativity and imagination in cinema reason to be optimistic. Andrey Iskanov is an incredibly gifted film maker and his work deserves recognition, whether Visions of Suffering is the film to do that remains to be seen, but I consider this to be one of the most important films to come out of the underground in a long time and a work of surreal genius.

Visions of Suffering 2003

Directed by Andrey Iskanov

Read our exclusive interview with Andrey Iskanov