Visually stunning (the cinematography is by Darius Khondji, who shot Delicatessen and Se7en), this is a simple but formally complex and lush film. In it Jordan returns to the fairytale as his source and interweaves the tales of Red Riding Hood, and most particularly Snow White, with that of a psychotic serial killer (Robert Downey, Jnr). The killer becomes obsessed with creating a perfect, harmonious family with the mother (Annette Bening) of one of his child victims. Through this marriage of reality and imagination, which comes complete with a veritable catalogue of cinematic references (everything from Psycho to Blue Velvet and the Nightmare on Elm Street series), Jordan explores notions around the unconscious, the family, madness and different ways of perceiving reality. The killer and the mother become psychically linked and as he invades her dreams she descends into madness. However, only by accepting this new identity can she hope to survive and stop his murderous spree.
U.S.A., 1998. Colour. Anamorphic. Dolby digital stereo. 100 mins.