
The Last Movie: Stanley Kubrick and 'Eyes Wide Shut'
1999

2002
Director
Paul Joyce
Runtime
51 minutes
Average Rating
No ratings yetSynopsis
Hell on Earth is an hour-long documentary presented by Mark Kermode. It's about Ken Russell's 1971 film, The Devils which is one of the most controversial films ever made. Kermode chats to Russell as well as two of the films stars Georgina Hale and Murray Melvin. Also included are scenes that were cut from the released film for being too controversial.
Overall Score
Good
Category Breakdown
LGBTQ+ Representation
The film explores queer subtext through the legacy of Ken Russell's work. Murray Melvin's presence provides a direct connection to non-cisnormative performance histories and non-traditional roles.
Gender Representation
By featuring Georgina Hale, the documentary centers a female perspective on a narrative that challenges submissive femininity. It examines how Russell subverted traditional gender hierarchies and religious repression.
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
The production focuses on a specific European historical and cinematic period. There is no evidence of significant racial subversion or demographic breadth within this documentary framework.
Religious & Cultural Diversity
The film critiques traditional Western institutions by analyzing the intersection of Church and state. It frames religious authority as a systemic force capable of oppression and dogma.
Disability Representation
The documentary touches on themes of psychological distress and mental instability. It explores human fragility and mental states that move beyond sanitized, traditional portrayals of wellness.
Strengths
Areas for Improvement
AI Analysis
Hell on Earth serves as a scholarly excavation of transgressive art, focusing on how religious and social institutions regulate individual identity. It succeeds by centering the voices of those who participated in the original subversion of social norms. The documentary's strength lies in its interrogation of power dynamics and bodily autonomy. It uses the history of Ken Russell's work to challenge established moral frameworks and institutionalized dogma. However, the film remains limited by its narrow focus on European cinematic history. This concentration results in a lack of racial and ethnic diversity within the narrative scope.

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