Black Swan

To be honest, Black Swan is not a cheery movie. But then again, Swan Lake, the ballet that ballerina Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman) gets cast in, doesn’t end cheerily either. However, as a horror movie, it surely is well done.

Nina is cast as Odette, the Swan Queen, in her company’s production of Swan Lake, after impressing company director Thomas (Vincent Cassel). In the story of the ballet, Odette’s chance for true love is blown by her evil double, Odile the Black Swan.

The allegorical Black Swan comes in as Lily (Mila Kunis), a new dancer who ends up being her understudy. Whereas Nina lives a sheltered life under her domineering mother, Erica (Barbara Hershey), Lily is a definite free spirit. That’s when the stress of Nina’s life finally gets to her…

This film is a realized nightmare on screen. From Nina slowly, and painfully, turning into an actual Black Swan (since she must also play Odile), to off-screen terrors we can only hear, the film’s purpose is to jolt the audience’s perception of reality and fantasy. As an assault of sight and sound, it definitely works.

What it also has going for it is Natalie Portman. She’s definitely convincing as an innocent soul, and as a mentally cracked individual. Mila Kunis, meanwhile, makes for a memorable “antagonist.” And among the other cast, Winona Ryder gives the best performance as the aging ballerina whom Nina replaces. It’s definitely another perfect showcase for actors.

Its director, Darren Aronofsky, left The Fighter to do this film. And it is under his direction that all talent, both on-screen and off, gives exceptional output. Even if one is put off by the intensity, if they can somehow manage it, then they can sure admire how well it is done.