“Armageddon, no rhyme or reason for the portrayal of neuroses in such a long and drawn out manner.”
“What a draggy disgrace! It makes a mockery of people who actually have mental illnesses.”
“Great acting and powerful to watch.”
“Material for a 24 minute episode of TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE stretched to two hours of tedium.”
“Why bother, dragged too long.”
“Take out 5, 10 minutes or an hour from this film.”
“The writer/director’s statement was enticing, but I couldn’t respect or follow the Ohio take on anxiety. It was over the top for all the wrong reasons. I do not see the political threads, perhaps the Armageddon take makes sense.”
“At least he remembered the key!”
“The ending was unsatisfying and confusing.”
“OK, this was a fascinating study of mental illness as we deteriorate into the snake pit of a human mind gone awry. Then we get yanked into a totally new genre with the final shot that changes a personal story into a warning of global Armageddon. I have whiplash.”
“Even the credits were too slow.”
“Disappointed in the ending, raining oil, really?”
“Way too long by a 1/2-hour. At one point I wanted to shout ‘Give me the key!’”
“The most anxiety provoking film. Would not advise friends to see it. The only thing is that one learns how difficult it is to get the proper help for mental illness.”
“Michael Shannon is such an amazing actor, he could make you believe black is white. I was so uncomfortable throughout the film waiting for terrible things to befall his wife and child. Redefines the word suspenseful. Stunning special effects. Was this an environmental statement, birds dying suddenly, chlorine gas spill, hurricanes gone wild due to global warming or is he insane?”
“Powerful performances, gripping drama.”
“A very realistic portrayal of anxiety and how mental illness manifests. The film is really a depiction of people’s worries about losing jobs, health insurance… The structure of the film was masterful in the creation of tension, especially the use of music. The acting was excellent. It is a difficult film to watch, a difficult subject, but important. I really would like to hear a discussion with the writer/director, especially about that ending!”
“What an ending! The writer/director lost control of the film.”
“I really hated it! (A lot of scrambled eggs.) What a self-indulgent film!”