IMDb RATING
6.2/10
6.2K
YOUR RATING
A girl with unusual powers escapes from a mental asylum and tries to make it on her own in New Orleans.A girl with unusual powers escapes from a mental asylum and tries to make it on her own in New Orleans.A girl with unusual powers escapes from a mental asylum and tries to make it on her own in New Orleans.
- Awards
- 5 wins & 4 nominations total
Jeon Jong-seo
- Mona 'Lisa' Lee
- (as Jun Jong Seo)
Jennifer Vo
- Irene
- (as Jennifer Nguyen Vo)
Amy Le
- Asian Woman
- (as Amy H. Le)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
In slick, original drama-thriller "Mona Lisa And The Blood Moon" Jeon Jong-seo escapes a mental asylum to New Orleans' seedy, steamy side where she's taken in by the 'colourful' likes of street-punk Ed Skrein, skanky exotic dancer Kate Hudson, & Hudson's kid Evan Whitten... as tired beat cop Craig Robinson hunts her down. Writer / director Ana Lily Amirpour's screenplay is unexpected, fresh & with terrific characters (tho some MAY bemoan the non-traditional plot) and she elicits superb performances (esp the understatedly outstanding Jong-seo) against a richly stylish backdrop (inc pulsating soundtrack). Excellent film-making from an upcoming potential master.
I enjoyed this movie to the point I watched it twice on Amazon Prime. I'd watch it thrice if there was a French dub (I wanted to try it). The highlight of the movie is the soundtrack, in my opinion. The licensed tracks are clearly carefully curated to create a nocturnal, electronic-infused vibe. In fact, most of the movie is filmed at night. It has some beautiful shots of New Orleans at night and the film definitely goes for something more stylized than realistic. It's what I would call a traditional movie. 3 acts, beginning, middle and end. No pretentions, no sequel-bait, just a nice little story that explains enough about its characters and world.
The cast does a good job in my opinion. The movie isn't overly gory or gritty so don't go expecting a slasher. It has a cool concept of a girl who is some kind of ESPer (like the psychic kids in Akira). She can control people with her mind similar to some form of hypnosis and after escaping a mental institution she was held in, she goes out and about finding people along her way and a few hijinks ensue. (Don't worry, there are no spoilers here, this is pretty much the premise and synopsis).
It's a good little movie that doesn't last that long, it's roughly 1h40mins. I found it rather curious, endearing, mysterious and weird enough to warrant a second or even a third watch. I wasn't expecting to like it, but somehow I did. This unasuming movie found its way into my heart, it appears. Give it a try, dear IMDB wanderer. I think you might have a good time if you fancy the weird and mysterious.
The cast does a good job in my opinion. The movie isn't overly gory or gritty so don't go expecting a slasher. It has a cool concept of a girl who is some kind of ESPer (like the psychic kids in Akira). She can control people with her mind similar to some form of hypnosis and after escaping a mental institution she was held in, she goes out and about finding people along her way and a few hijinks ensue. (Don't worry, there are no spoilers here, this is pretty much the premise and synopsis).
It's a good little movie that doesn't last that long, it's roughly 1h40mins. I found it rather curious, endearing, mysterious and weird enough to warrant a second or even a third watch. I wasn't expecting to like it, but somehow I did. This unasuming movie found its way into my heart, it appears. Give it a try, dear IMDB wanderer. I think you might have a good time if you fancy the weird and mysterious.
... which really is just as rare it sounds. If you missed the 70s through an accident of birth, this little gem can remedy that. From literally the first frame of the film (which immediately bypasses the standard, sequential, "Dramatic Acts") it is clear that this is more a theme park ride, and less a traditional narrative. Director Ana Amirpour, known for her love of reversing and twisting traditional gender roles, seems to delight in this story of an asylum inmate (whose crimes are never fully explained) who also has a super power (the origins of which are also never fully explained); and who -- in a bizarre twist on the PINOCCHIO tale -- just wants to a regular girl. Good luck with that. The first lesson the audience learns about the young lady is, never offer her a choice between "the easy way and the hard way." You won't like her pick. Amirpour is one of a handful of indie auteurs who has a true genius for color and scene setting. Which only adds to the experience. If you keep your expectations in check, a very watchable effort. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))
This movie is about vibes. Wow. An authentic trip, not without flaws, but always with a lot of personality and originality, with no fear of referencing past decades and even using some camp in a ridiculous way.
It's the 3rd movie I've seen with Jeon Jong-seo and there's little doubt to me that she's a star, capable of filling the screen and dominating every scene she is in. In this film, she is once again mesmerizing (ok, ok...) and manages to captivate us with her aura of mystery combined with her innocence.
I have to see The Bad Batch - some reviews have made me postpone this experience - but this is another film that demonstrates how unique Ana Lily Amirpour is, without fear of doing something different and taking risks. The soundtrack of this film is something sensational and all the editing options taken make it seem like we are on an authentic trip. The cinematography is fantastic and is always pleasant to look to the screen full of colours and life.
The script is not as strong as it would be desirable and many questions remain unanswered, but this is a commendable experience, full of style, attitude, and striking scenes that deserve to be much more talked about than it has been.
It's the 3rd movie I've seen with Jeon Jong-seo and there's little doubt to me that she's a star, capable of filling the screen and dominating every scene she is in. In this film, she is once again mesmerizing (ok, ok...) and manages to captivate us with her aura of mystery combined with her innocence.
I have to see The Bad Batch - some reviews have made me postpone this experience - but this is another film that demonstrates how unique Ana Lily Amirpour is, without fear of doing something different and taking risks. The soundtrack of this film is something sensational and all the editing options taken make it seem like we are on an authentic trip. The cinematography is fantastic and is always pleasant to look to the screen full of colours and life.
The script is not as strong as it would be desirable and many questions remain unanswered, but this is a commendable experience, full of style, attitude, and striking scenes that deserve to be much more talked about than it has been.
Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon is pretty cool and original movie. I love the premise and the setup. It has a distinct visual style and some interesting music to further differentiate itself.
I enjoyed all of the characters, even the bad ones. It has a good cast giving good performances. Kate Hudson is nearly unrecognizable. And the child actor does a great job playing endearing. I'm normally annoyed by child characters, but he made me root for him.
The reason I didn't rate this higher is because it doesn't seem like it has anywhere to go past the premise and setup. I liked the conclusion but it doesn't feel like it escalates enough through the middle part.
But I think I would watch this a second time and would definitely be interested in a sequel.
(1 viewing, 7/16/2024)
I enjoyed all of the characters, even the bad ones. It has a good cast giving good performances. Kate Hudson is nearly unrecognizable. And the child actor does a great job playing endearing. I'm normally annoyed by child characters, but he made me root for him.
The reason I didn't rate this higher is because it doesn't seem like it has anywhere to go past the premise and setup. I liked the conclusion but it doesn't feel like it escalates enough through the middle part.
But I think I would watch this a second time and would definitely be interested in a sequel.
(1 viewing, 7/16/2024)
Did you know
- GoofsThe ticket agent would have informed the TSA about Charlie and Mona Lisa since they didn't seem to care about where the plane was going. This is highly unusual behavior which could be indicative of terrorism.
- Soundtracks10,000 Years
Written by Desmond Kensel, Matthew Pike and George Rice
Performed by High On Fire
Courtesy of Southern Lord Recordings
- How long is Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Mona Lisa y la luna de sangre
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross worldwide
- $123,508
- Runtime1 hour 46 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content

Top Gap
What was the official certification given to Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon (2021) in Spain?
Answer