Movie Poster

He ceases to be a wrongdoer. He ceases also to be a creature capable of moral choice.

# Review

This is the first Kubrick film I’ve ever watched and it follows the story of the antisocial Alex (Malcolm McDowell) who, along with his three equally unhinged droogs, are out to cause ultra-violence and mayhem. After a crime too far, Alex is arrested and thrown into prison. While in prison, he volunteers for a conduct-aversion experiment with unexpected results.

The cinematography is amazing and keeps the audience engaged with its interesting shots. In particular, the use of lighting and colours, such as the bright and colourful shots during Alex’s rampage and the bleak, subdued shots after Alex is arrested, helps set the tone for the scenes. The design of the setting is very futuristic and unique, despite the film having a relatively small budget. The classical soundtrack also adds an additional layer of surrealism. McDowell plays a creepy and unsettling Alex, yet I couldn’t help but feel sympathetic for him in certain scenes. The story, based on the novel by Anthony Burgess, is very unique and explores some very interesting themes such as youth criminality, violence, and reform.

# Conclusion

A bit difficult to watch at time due to the subject matter, but a very original film.

# Overall rating: 8.3

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