Thinner

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: October 25, 1996

7.4	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 56 Ratings

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TheQuietGamerJul 11, 2017

It's an interesting premise and a decent story. Although this is one of those Stephen King adaptions where one has to wonder if it would have been better off just staying as a book. King has a lot of interesting works out there that would doIt's an interesting premise and a decent story. Although this is one of those Stephen King adaptions where one has to wonder if it would have been better off just staying as a book. King has a lot of interesting works out there that would do well as a movie, but Thinner? There's a lot of just watching the guy grow increasingly wary of his situation before actually doing anything. Yet, despite being an odd choice I feel director and writer Tom Holland did a pretty good job with the material.

Thinner is basically a body-horror, revenge movie. One where just about every character is out to get someone else. The real problem with the movie is that no one is in the right. No one deserves to get their revenge, because most of the people they want to get revenge on haven't actually done anything that bad. At least not intentionally. It's just one simple mistake that spirals wildly out of control because everybody wants to get all justice happy. I mean, yeah it's a crappy situation and certain characters did try to weasel their way out of it, but the punishments don't fit the crimes. Especially since everyone sort of brought all of this on themselves.

This could have been forgivable had the movie tried to use it to teach viewers something. Like forgiveness, taking responsibility for our actions, and how taking justice into our own hands only makes things worse. However it doesn't do that. We watch the main character go through all of the movie's events and literally learn nothing. If anything, he ends up a worse person. Missed opportunity.

Now, if you've actually read through all of this it probably sounds like I hated the movie. That isn't quite the case. In fact I think it's an okay watch. Some of that Stephen King magic is still present. We get some interesting scenarios like a dream sequence involving a gypsy carnival. Also, like I said the premise is interesting. If you like Stephen King then you should like the movie.… Expand

1 of 19 users found this helpful118

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FilipeNetoJan 31, 2021

Movies about gypsy curses are always interesting because it is something that is not often addressed by horror cinema. I, at least, have this perception. In this case, the film has the advantage of being based on yet another story created byMovies about gypsy curses are always interesting because it is something that is not often addressed by horror cinema. I, at least, have this perception. In this case, the film has the advantage of being based on yet another story created by Stephen King's seething mind.

The story is based on Billy. He is an obese lawyer who has tried to lose weight with successive diets, without success due to an absolute lack of willpower to carry them out. However, one night, while driving distractedly, he runs over an old gypsy woman, killing her. The gypsies go to court, expecting him to be convicted in some way, but the judge takes the case as an accident and Billy leaves unpunished. In order to prevent that, and at least to have some justice, the old gypsy, father of the dead woman and head of the community, goes to Billy and puts a terrible curse on him: losing weight until death.

The film has good premises and a promising story, but it also has several problems: for a start, black humor is not for everyone. I like it, but I understand if someone tells me they don't like it. Another problem (for me, it was not a problem) is that the film makes us feel guilty for sympathizing with a man who ran over a person and got away with it. In fact, Billy is friendly and pleasant, and the gypsies are portrayed in such a dark way that it is impossible to sympathize with them or with what they say and think.

Robert John Burke is very good in the main role and the way he embodies the enormous physical and mental transformation of the character is a remarkable job. Joe Mantegna, too, as a violent but loyal mobster, is doing very well. But even better than him is a great Daniel von Bargen, a lesser known actor, but who was excellent in the role he was given. Kari Wuhrer and Lucinda Jenney also contribute, in minor characters.

Technically, the film is quite average. Cinematography does not stand out particularly, and the same could be said for the soundtrack, costumes and sets. What is really to be congratulated are the visual and special effects, for the way they managed to transform an extremely obese person into a real corpse. We also cannot forget the good work of the makeup artists, essential for the misshapen appearance of other characters in this film, also cursed by the gypsies.… Expand

0 of 11 users found this helpful011

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