Heartless (2009)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1220214/

Honestly, I probably would have missed this movie entirely if someone hadn't recommended the translation to me!
Guess what?
It’s incredible. At least, from where I am right now.
It starts off pretty classic, and I'm only about thirty minutes in.
The quality is actually really high, so I'm surprised it isn't more famous.
Especially since it's an American film, which is usually my go-to style.
But around the half-hour mark, things just get wild. It’s unlike anything else I've seen. Totally original, crazy, and intense!!!
I'll definitely post more once I finish it,
but I wanted to start this thread to see if anyone else has watched it and what you thought.
It's been a long time since a movie gave me such a punch in the gut.

Talk soon after I finish watching.
I don't think I'll be disappointed.

Just watched this movie for the second time and I'm still buzzing.
I really hope this grabs a few people because I'm recommending this to everyone I know who digs high-concept horror or psychological thrillers.
It's hard to find a direct comparison. Maybe the vibe is a bit Twin Peaks-ish, but the horror here dives deep into some heavy themes. Take violence, for instance. It explores how humans actually react to it. The concept isn't brand new—chaos leading to growth versus stagnation leading to regression—but they weave it into the plot beautifully. There are explicit scenes of violence and horror, but it’s definitely not a slasher. If you're looking for a classic slasher flick, this probably isn't your cup of tea. Instead, it tackles family dynamics, love (real or fake), fate, and the illusion of control. Religion plays a role in the background too, along with testing one's own limits.
The focus is mostly on the atmosphere, digging into the protagonist's psyche. It's one of those movies where the line between reality and hallucination gets blurry. The transitions are so seamless that you might need a second or third viewing to truly grasp what happened when.
The storytelling is just incredible. I can't even put it into words properly. The creators built this amazing atmosphere where every horror beat hits home. They don't overdo it, but when things happen, it's hard to look away.
Visually, the film is top-tier. My only tiny gripe is the score; sometimes it's a bit too obvious about hinting at what's coming next, which feels a little Hollywood cliché, but it doesn't ruin the experience.
This is an American production, and honestly, I'm surprised it hasn't blown up more given the stellar cast. You'll recognize them immediately.
Basically, there are two storylines running, and you're never quite sure how they connect. They drop hints early on, and everything clicks perfectly by the end. In other films, that kind of setup feels forced, but not here. On the first watch, you'll have questions, and there are some clever linguistic and visual tricks that feel totally fresh.
While typing this, I kept thinking about Faust. It’s possible that was their starting point, but this is Faust with a twist. It features some genius moments that subvert clichés through humor, paired with dialogue that feels natural yet deeply profound.
I doubt many of you have seen this yet, and I'm not sure if it's even easy to find, but it's only a matter of time before it hits the festival circuit. It’s a total sleeper hit—a psychological thriller with supernatural elements. Highly recommended. Give it a watch and let me know what you think. I'm curious.

Edward Price6 said:I mean, I doubt many of you have actually sat down to watch this thing, and I’m not even sure if it’s easy to find online, but it feels like just a matter of time before someone tracks it down and starts pushing it through the festival circuit. Maybe I'm totally off base, though.

Actually, you're wrong; the movie's been out there since May 2010 (it's pretty much everywhere). English subtitles have been available since June of that same year.

I caught it late last year, and honestly, it wasn't half bad. I'll write up something more substantial tomorrow.

Christian Taylor3 said:Actually, you're wrong. That movie has been out since May 2010. It's everywhere. English subtitles have been available since June of that year.

Watched it late last year. Not bad. I'll write more tomorrow.

Go ahead, can't wait.
I really want to geek out about this film, but nobody I know has seen it.

I watched it yesterday and honestly, it didn't click for me. 🥳
The intro dragged on far too long; I spent most of the runtime waiting for the plot to actually start. Then, SPOILER: once he enters the skyscraper where dad b - Bella live, the whole thing takes on this weird Matrix vibe😁. It was also painfully obvious that dad would end up dominating him, which is such a tired trope in these types of films. When his male counterpart appeared, it felt less like a plot point and more like he was having a psychotic break in need of immediate therapy. Bella is an interesting character, though. It feels as if she is actually just a more palatable version of dad—someone who orchestrates the violence but masks it with empathy and kindness. A gentle touch makes everything easier. 😉 Papa b - Bella- Bella.
While I concede that the line between reality and hallucination is thin and skillfully drawn, it still wasn't enough to truly impress me.

driftinggull21 said:So I watched it yesterday and it just didn't click for me. 🥳
The intro drags way too long. I kept waiting for the plot to actually start, but nothing happened. Then, SPOILER: when he enters the skyscraper where dad and Belle are, things get totally Matrix-style😁. It was pretty obvious from the jump that dad was going to crush him, like it always goes in these movies. When the guy turned out to be such a jerk, it felt like he was straight-up hallucinating and desperately needs therapy. Belle is an interesting character, though. It feels like she’s basically dad, just in a version that works better as a protagonist since she orchestrated the murder using empathy and kindness. Being nice really does open doors. 😉 dad b- Belle.
The line between reality and hallucinations is thin and sophisticated, which they did well, but it wasn't enough to blow my mind.

SPOILERS
I still have a few questions after watching twice.
Yeah, it was clear dad would mess him up,
but my biggest question came when she called the main character "dad" for the first time.
Maybe she's giving him the family image he always wanted, and he just took it for granted because he didn't even react or ask why she called him that.
Obviously, it's about hallucinations—but what exactly is a hallucination here? Everything?
Everything except those masked monster gangs?
And the burning at the end?
And the mom's murder? That actually happened, right? That's what set everything in motion, yet he's hallucinating before that too.
I just can't figure out exactly when the hallucinations start, what triggers them, or why.

SPOILER
Bella is his dark side. In reality, she’s the one who nudged him to accept the deal with papa b - Bella, using lines like, "your mother wanted you to have a family just like your brother..." She knows exactly which buttons to push. She also lied to him about the gunsmith showing up in sixty years—a classic manipulation to make him think he wouldn't actually have to do anything. It’s quite effective when your "dark side" is someone as fragile and irresistible as her.
He was hallucinating even before his mother's murder, but that specific act acted as the trigger, causing his condition to spiral into much more complex and detailed hallucinations and imperatives.
I am not entirely sure why Bella calls him dad, but in the film, he accepts her and everything she says because she is an extension of himself—a hallucination without which he couldn't commit the murder. He doesn't even question her "advice or instructions."
Ultimately, what triggers the hallucinations might be irrelevant. Jamie is psychologically stunted; bullied by peers, walking with his head down under a hoodie, unable to form healthy relationships because of his own self-loathing regarding his appearance. He is essentially a hollow, miserable individual. The hallucinations simply added "color" to his life, providing him with purpose and momentum.

Every frame of this movie carries weight. The acting is superb, and I objectively recommend this film to everyone.

driftinggull21 said:SPOILER
Bella is his dark side. She actually nudged him into making that deal with papa b - Bella, telling him stuff like "your mom wanted you to have a family just like your brother..." so she knows exactly which buttons to push. She also lied about the gunsmith showing up in 60 years—classic move, just get him to agree and hope he doesn't need anything later. It's a smart tactic when your "dark side" is someone fragile, sweet, and irresistible.
He was already hallucinating before his mom was killed (that seems to be a real thing), but that act was the trigger that turned those hallucinations into much more complex, detailed visions and imperatives.
Not sure why Bella calls him dad, but in the movie, he accepts her and everything she says because she’s part of him—the hallucination he needs to pull off the kill. He basically doesn't question her "advice."
Honestly, what triggers the hallucinations isn't even the point. Jamie is psychologically damaged. He was bullied by peers, walks around with his head down in a hoodie, and can't form healthy relationships because he hates how he looks. He's essentially just a sad, empty person. The hallucinations gave his life color, purpose, and momentum.

Every frame of this movie sends a message. The acting is top-tier and I definitely recommend it to everyone.

I'm not sure I totally agree that Jamie is an empty person.
He's shown as a photographer, a young guy whose life actually had meaning, at least until his mother was murdered.
I'd say he was living in the past, tucked away in his father's stories that made the world seem better than it really is. It's a classic issue when parents convince a kid they're the best, smartest, or most beautiful thing ever... right up until reality hits them hard.
The physical disability—if you want to call it that—amplifies that whole dynamic, and I agree he might have found more happiness if he’d had the courage to open up to the world. But after his mother died, that sense of purpose he keeps mentioning (linked to his father, since he was the only one who "knew how to make sense of life") vanished, and that's when he turns dark. The physical flaw itself becomes less relevant, which is why it fades from his mind. It's a great portrayal of how easily a person can be broken by their frustrations and how fragile the human psyche really is. We've all cracked one way or another.

I don't know. I experienced Jamie as someone deeply dissatisfied, lacking both self-respect and confidence. He was so fixated on his physical anomaly that it paralyzed him, causing him to forget he was actually a talented photographer—and that the girl would have even gone out for coffee with him if he had just asked.
In that sense, I felt he was empty. That heart-shaped anomaly defined him.

The moment she disappeared, he finally transformed into the man he was meant to be: a gifted photographer, confident in his abilities, good-looking, and extroverted...

What do you think the meaning behind One / She is?

driftinggull21 said:I don't know. I saw Jamie as someone who was just unhappy, lacking any self-respect or confidence. He was so obsessed with his physical anomaly that it completely paralyzed him. He forgot he was actually a talented photographer and that the girl would have gone out for coffee with him if he’d just asked.
That's why I thought he was empty. That heart-shaped anomaly defined him.

The second she disappeared, he finally became the person he was meant to be. A talented photographer, proud of his skills, good-looking, and outgoing...

What do you think about the meaning of One / She?

I know She gave me trouble when predicting because I only realized who it was later and had to redo everything.
As for the meaning, I haven't really thought about it. Maybe I missed something, but I don't see a deeper layer. Just a gang leader, a bully, a real person.
Do you think it represents something or connects to something else?

Edward Price6 said:I know She gave me trouble during the prediction phase because I didn't realize who it was until later, so I had to redo everything.
As for the meaning, I hadn't really thought about it—maybe I missed it—but I don't see any deeper symbolism. Just a gang leader, a bully, a real person.
Do you think he represents something specific or links to another theme?

By the way,
it's likely no coincidence that he does fine art photography.
It's an aesthetic discipline, and with his "physical flaw," he definitely knows how to appreciate beauty.
But then you have to wonder—is what we find average actually stunning to him, while what we see as objectively ugly is unbearable because he has to live with it and all the negative baggage that comes with such a flaw?
Most of us knew someone back in high school who went through hell because of some visible physical imperfection.
Still, I doubt that flaw is the main point here. The movie isn't trying to say everyone ends up a mentally unstable serial killer just because of their insecurities. If you think about it, he actually becomes more unstable right when that flaw disappears from his mind, doesn't he?

Edward Price6 said:By the way,
it’s likely no coincidence that he pursues fine art photography.
It is an aesthetic discipline, and given his "physical flaw," he certainly knows how to appreciate beauty.
However, this raises a question—is what we consider average beauty "extraordinary" to him because what we find objectively ugly is "extraordinarily ugly" to him, considering he has to live with it and all the negative experiences such a flaw carries?
Surely, everyone in school knew someone who suffered because of some visible physical imperfection.
But then again, I doubt that specific flaw is the key factor here, because the point of the movie isn't that everyone ends up as a mentally unstable serial killer due to their flaws and related frustrations. If you think about it more deeply—he actually becomes more unstable precisely when that flaw disappears from his mind, doesn't he?

I didn't find much meaning in *One* either.

There are people with physical imperfections who remain highly self-confident and carry themselves that way. From a psychological standpoint, if you don't accept yourself as you are, you can never be satisfied. As for beauty? It truly is in the eye of the beholder. But you made a good point that he becomes even more unstable once the anomaly is gone, which is why he is Heartless. Both outwardly and inwardly. It is certainly one of the messages: when we are obsessed with the external, we prevent ourselves from recognizing our true qualities.