The Decay of Fiction (2002) Reviews

• The only non-comedy that has ever left me laughing uncontrollably...

  ben-waterhouse2005-04-21

  Oh, this one's baaaad. I mean, really bad, so bad it's difficult to conceive of how pervasive its badness really is. At the same time, it's one of the most enjoyable cinematic experiences I've ever had. To really enjoy this film, you should go to the theater expecting the 'avant-garde noir' movie you saw advertised. Then sit through 30 minutes of agonizing stop-motion shots of empty hotel rooms. Then see the masturbating skeleton appear on screen. Laugh uproariously for the next 40 minutes, disrupting the self-absorbed viewing experiences of the pretentious connoisseurs in the audience. This piece of crap has no plot, of course; but what condemns it is not its "pure art" genre. Many nonlinear moving-picture artworks have been made that are truly beautiful. 'Decay of Fiction' is not one of them. The film features a cast of naked, obese men in devil masks, nude ballerinas in gas masks, and sexually frustrated corpses. It is unintentionally farcical, and horribly undignified. Go see it. It's unique!

• Very nice Avant Garde film, especially wonderful editing!

  kanedude2003-05-17

  Excellent film, and the editing is wonderful! If you are a true film fan, a must see! Also a joy to make. Pat was a terrific director to work for. Though his previous works never included any actors, this film was a very collaborative effort. Pat allowed for input and much playfulness on the set, and the final product comes across very well as a result.