The Preening Swan (2011) User Reviews

Limars Seeking The Mites

[MARKDAYDRUNK · 7/10 · 15 March 2023]

I have to say that I am a terrible person and not likable. I write as a person not deserving of seeing this show. I am a low IQ. So, I think it was great. It started on the moon and it was drawn out and then it went to some wicked nine miles away. It is great how to whip cream and Shaque was in it at the neighborhood place.

It is an over-the-top slasher movie. Beware. The humor is shocking and dedicated to methodical elections for CB and other characters. The audience involved people who name by JW to JWB. It was 189 minutes longer than the last one. Psychoanalysis was done by an A personality type.

Vintage Horror Gone Right

[RJNewman5 · 10/10 · 19 October 2020]

Horror movies are so important to me when I'm getting into the Halloween spirit. As I was searching for new movies to watch this year, I came across "The Preening Swan." It is everything I wanted out of an old school horror film. It's got screams, gore, and all the other classic tropes that come with this style of film. When I think of vintage horror movies, I think of Wes Craven and his catalogue, and this movie is not only reminiscent of those films, but provides its own unique take on the genre. I highly recommend this movie to anyone that wants to have the true Halloween experience!

Strangely satisfying. A horror movie with a refreshingly broken rhythm.

[madiganfilms · 9/10 · 2 January 2012]

I saw this rarity in a small movie theater at a Hollywood movie studio. It has offbeat humor, several shocking moments and dedicated performances. Well directed, it's slow, methodical pace allows the mood of the movie to steadily, and creepily, change.

It is not an over-the-top slasher movie, nor does have the straightforwardness or pace of Hitchcokian suspense. To me, it reveals itself more like a madman undergoing psychoanalysis. The 1960's setting also gives us another layer off oddness and appeal. The audience was fully satisfied by the end. An excellent collaboration of European and American talents.I recommend seeing this movie.

Rumors are that a sequel is in the works.

Must Watch

[alisonanne-05394 · 10/10 · 20 October 2020]

"The Preening Swan" is the perfect mix of unsettling and satirical comedy, with a chilling plot that keeps you on your toes but simultaneously pokes fun at the typical horror film tropes. The vintage aesthetic of the film, set in 1968, provides an artistic element that brings you back to the origins of horror films. I found this hidden gem on Film Festival Flix just in time for Halloween, and it deserves all the credit for bringing originality to a timeless genre; I can't recommend it enough!

a horror comedy must!

[RenNotKylo · 10/10 · 21 October 2020]

I recently watched Thomy Kessler's "The Preening Swan" as part of Film Festival Flix's Halloween Horror Fest, and I thought it was the ultimate horror spoof. With every aspect heightened, from hair and makeup, costumes and acting, Kessler cleverly elevates the film's hilariously thrilling plot to be more than a . Stylistically speaking, The Preening Swan is an audience pleasing fever dream where That 70's Show meets Halloween. A perfect balance between tropes, plot, and thrills allows this film to hit every mark that a dedicated horror fan could ask for in an underground throwback film. I can't wait to discover more films like it on the platform!

An ingenious dichotomy

[christian84121 · 10/10 · 19 October 2020]

Thomy Kessler does an excellent job of blending two dissimilar genres, horror and comedy, into an intelligent dichotomy that is "The Preening Swan." The film is able to ease into a terrifying horror movie as its plot unfolds, with an occasional comedic break. However, at the climax of the film my blood was racing, and my eyes couldn't peel away from the screen as we discover more about this mysterious serial killer. I thought that this was an excellent horror movie that takes inspiration from the legendary Wes Craven, while also creating its own conventions in the horror genre. Kessler's use of mise-en-scene is ingenious, the color palette of the film in particular stood out to me as a representation of the psychedelic theme of the film. Overall, I thought that "The Preening Swan" was an incredible and unique horror film that lends itself to being watched multiple times.

A Blast to the Past!

[Braden_Miller007 · 10/10 · 29 October 2020]

The Preening Swan is packed full of nostalgia and perfectly captures the essence of classic horror. The film looks and feels just like a blast from the past. I could easily imagine this being a classic 80's horror film, with amazing practical effects and a tone similar to the works of Wes Craven. The film perfectly spoofs classic horror, with exactly the kind of over the top acting and style you'd expect. This throwback film is filled with moments that reminded me of some of my favorite classic slasher films and I can't wait to see what they come up with next!

Disturbing and Comedic

[ktgallagher · 10/10 · 23 October 2020]

"The Preening Swan" is the perfect break you need from other nightmare inducing films, holding a perfect balance between disturbing and comic relief. The B-movie nature of the film is highly stylized to replicate a classic slasher film, which I got a good laugh out of, while still keeping me engaged through intentional choices made by Director Thomy Kessler. The plot definitely had me guessing the whole time, and it was an entertaining way to get that Halloween feel while not being scared to go to bed afterwards! I highly recommend giving it a watch!

Great mix of horror and comedy!

[connorxrjames · 10/10 · 22 October 2020]

I recently found this hidden gem of a horror film called "The Preening Swan" on Film Festival Flix and was hooked on how intelligently thought out the concept was. Thomy Kessler, a filmmaker from Germany, successfully brought together two completely different genres in that of horror comedy. At one second he holds the audience in his grip through intense dynamics between a character and the setting he's created. But in the blink of an eye he'll shift everything to a refreshing comedic break just to bring the audience right back onto the edge of their seat. It genuinely keeps the audience fixated onto the screen, not knowing where the film will take them. "The Preening Swan" should be at the top of everyone's list, especially for those looking for a horror experience you won't forget.

A Fresh and Fun Take on Horror

[ktran20 · 10/10 · 21 October 2020]

Many films that hit all of the basic horror tropes fall into obscurity due to their mediocrity, which is what makes an outlier like Preening Swan such a refreshing and enchanting take on the genre. The satirical nature of this film is what helps it excel past typical, cookie cutter franchise horror films. Kessler ingeniously takes advantage of his low budget to intentionally create a B-movie that diverts the normal expectations of horror with hilariously bad acting and ridiculous special effects. Setting a slasher in the extravagant 1960s is an amusing twist on the usual, contrasting outrageous fashion and scenery with horrific imagery of violence. Preening Swan is original, grotesque, and most of all an incredibly enjoyable experience.

Holy Nostalgia

[suarezjoseph · 10/10 · 22 October 2020]

Okay, this one caught me by surprise in the best way! I was looking for lovers of my favorite horror director Wes Craven, and this movie hit all nerves. The pacing was fantastic, the characters had depth, and the suspense was thick throughout the entire film. A must see!