MONA LISA AND THE BLOOD MOON

US, 2022, 106 minutes Colour.

Kate Hudson, Jeong Jong-seo, Craig Robinson, Evan Whitten, Ed Skrein.

Directed by Ana Lily Amirpour.

The title sounds like one of those old-fashioned horror/dramas of the past. B-film title. And, that maybe the best way to appreciate this film. It is set in the underside of New Orleans, the world of clubs, strippers, money, violence.

But that does not quite do it justice. In fact, it opens in quite a different mood. The old theme song, Oscar-winner from the 1950s film After Midnight, begins to play – and recurs throughout the film, a speculation on da Vinci’s famous painting and its enigmas: Mona Lisa smile. But, the Mona Lisa of this film smiles very rarely. She is interned in a mental institution and has been for many years. She is potentially violent, with a straitjacket. And we see her taunted by a manicurist with a bad mouth, who get her comeuppance from Mona Lisa who is then able to escape the institution, wearing the straitjacket.  She is Korean.

The police have been notified but she escapes capture, but gets attention by going into shops, very hungry, taking food, but rescued by a stranger who hangs around the area (Ed Skrein).

But, the key thing is – and whether this is caused by the full moon, the blood moon, is not quite explained – is that she has psychic influence over those she wants to harm, miming behaviour, the victims imitating her, with violence to themselves. This is particularly the case with an officer, Craig Robinson, whom she forces to shoot himself in the leg. Recovering, he makes it his aim to track her down.

In the meantime, a tough stripper, played surprisingly by Kate Hudson, is involved in a brawl but is rescued by Mona Lisa. The tone of the film changes somewhat, a plunge into the strip clubs and many of the obnoxious customers, but Bonnie decides to use Mona Lisa’s power to get them to empty their wallets (which will have some harsh consequences later for Bonnie). And, what better than to stand by bank outlets and control customers to hand over $500 each. (But, they neglect to remember that they are under camera surveillance.)

The human element comes into the tale with the revelation that Bonnie has a 10-year-old son, Charlie (Evan Whitten, quite persuasive). His mother is harsh with him and he reacts badly. He certainly hostile to Mona Lisa coming into the house – but, she is curious about his angry dancing, joins him in the dance and they become friends.

If this sounds intriguing, there are several plot developments for further intrigue, especially Charlie and his helping Mona Lisa but his having to make final decisions to help her.

1. The title? The reference to Mona Lisa? The song and its lyrics? The enigmatic painting, the smile?
2. The title, the blood moon, the full moon, the influence on people, mental conditions?
3. The New Orleans setting, the mental Institute, the countryside, roads and bridges, stores, people on the street, the nightclubs, the interiors? Apartments? Atmosphere?
4. The musical score, the range of songs?
5. The introduction to Mona Lisa, straitjacket, the institution, her age, Korean, the manicurist, her attitude, bigoted, brutal, turning the tables, injuring herself? The escape, the receptionist banging his head on the mirror? Her getting out, wandering, into the city? The shop, being hungry, the chips, help from the stranger, his payment, sexual advance, his shirt? His later recurring, helping Mona Lisa, with the false documents, getting her to the airport?
6. Officer Harold, at work, eating, called, the women sick in the street, the encounter with Mona Lisa, her controlling him, his shooting his leg? His recovery, his continued pursuit of her?
7. Introduction to Bonnie, the fight in the street, Mona Lisa helping her, Bonnie taking her home, helping her, Charlie and his negative reaction, his negative reaction to his mother? Going to the club, Bonnie and her stripping, the other dancers and their attitudes, the men, Mona Lisa controlling them to empty their wallets? And the later repercussions, confronting Bonnie, bashing her? (And the final with the bouncer outside and his attacking the men?)
8. Going to the bank outlets, the control, $500? The police, concern? The surveillance cameras identifying them?
9. Mona Lisa finding some happiness, talking with Charlie, his angry dance and explanation, the joining in, their becoming friends?
10. Inspector Harold, confronting Mona Lisa, urging people to avoid looking at her?
11. Bonnie, the assault, in hospital? Mona Lisa deciding to leave, Charlie helping her, getting the false documents, going to the airport, the choice of destination, getting through security? Charlie and his change of heart, his denouncing the innocent woman and the consequences for the police, inspector Harold and the others at the airport?
12. Charlie, the visit to his mother? Charlie and his saving Mona Lisa – and her flying away, and the image of her looking at the plane window?