The Mesmerist (2003)

Director:

Bill Morrison

Writers:

Emile Erckmann (play), Bill Morrison (revisions to original story),

Stars:

Lionel Barrymore

Cast

Credited cast:
Lionel Barrymore	...	The Innkeeper (archive footage)

Storyline

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Genres:

Short | Crime

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 November 2003 (USA)

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hypnotic Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

16 min

Color:

Color (Sepia)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

An incredibly weird but almost hypnotic experience.

The maker of "The Mesmerist" took a very old and apparently decomposed copy of the silent film "The Bells" (with Lionel Barrymore and Boris Karloff) and set it to some jazzy music. As the film skips and decomposition bubble appear, the music works in tandem. While this sound very simple and perhaps stupid, it's actually a very interesting experiment--especially since the music really works well with the film. Not a film I'd rush out to see but extremely clever. I just wish I could get a copy of "The Bells" and see it for myself as well! I also would like to know if the filmmaker made the print more decayed in order to fit the film or if it was just composed to fit. Worth seeing for an audience with an appreciation of the sublime--but impossible to rate.