Mad God (2021)

Mad God (2021)

Director: Phil Tippett

Writer: Phil Tippett

Cast: Alex Cox, Niketa Roman, Satish Ratakonda

We love a good cautionary tale, don’t we? A story that teaches us that if there’s something we don’t do, that inaction can be our undoing. In some cases that can be a frightening thought, but in others it can be quite enlightening. This concept is what has driven art of storytelling for as long as our species has been conjuring tales. Phil Tippett’s Mad God is a film that tells this kind of story in a way that triggers some of our most potent emotions. It evokes everything from fear to wonderment, shock to nostalgia in an expertly executed stop motion nightmarish display.

For those of you who read the name Phil Tippett but can’t quite put your finger on where you’ve seen or heard it, think of some little movies by the name of Robocop, Jurassic Park, and Star Wars (okay, maybe not so little). Tippett was responsible for the visual and stop motion effects for those and many other big films. While Mad God isn’t his first venture into directing, it is definitely his most successful as he delivers a timely look into an exaggerated, albeit possible, future. We join The Assassin on their journey through a frighteningly dystopian city on their search for an opportunity to make an attempt on the life of the one in power, the Last Man. On our way through the dismal landscape we see the effects the denizens suffer as a result of the actions taken by the tyrant in power: Mutated people, left behind to fend for themselves, setting traps for whichever morsel would walk passed; manufactured slaves wiped out when they cease to be useful; and deformed animals, rapidly altered by their environment. Mad God is a hellscape that’s as breathtaking as it is hauntingly nostalgic, reminiscent of the music videos and animations of MTV’s golden years but with a modern finesse.

One of the things that makes this movie stand out (aside from the imagery, of course) is the incredible understanding of what horror is and how to effectively present to an audience in a way that lacks cheapness and low blows. Tippett doesn’t pick low hanging fruit here. He understands his audience and knows that they’re not looking to be scared–at least not in a traditional bump-in-the-night sense–but to be moved. That’s what modern horror enthusiasts want and Mad God delivers, all without saying a word. That’s right, there isn’t one word of dialogue in this film and yet, every nuance of the story was told clearly and without condescension. For most storytellers, this is no easy feat, but the story of The Assassin evolves beautifully while keeping itself engaging and gripping on a visual and auditory canvas that, if you were to zoom out from the tightly framed shots of our characters, you would see a macabre painting highlighting every detail of the movie. This is truly a master at work that deserves to be experienced.

While the visual marvel is clearly something to be treasured, the themes of Mad God are worthy of attention as well. There are questions for those who can interpret the largely unseen ruler as an allegory for God. What if They were never merciful? What kind of world would a tyrannical God build? For those who believe those could be chilling inquiries. As the story unfolds we see the religious perspectives meld with political ones. We then have perspectives from individual citizens who work in the city and mirror our own society’s experiences: A surgeon indiscriminately doing his job while the nurse working beside him lives with the guilt of helping with a procedure that goes against her morals, yet she follows through, and those are just two characters. Just beyond them we see representations of oppression, resistance, compliance, and regret. There are layers here, and you don’t need speeches and exposition dumps to see them. Tippett’s got you covered. All this leads to an ending that perfectly brings all of the themes together in an explosive epiphany that will leave you both awestruck and insecure about the future of humankind.

Phil Tippett’s Mad God is more than an animated film. It’s more than a horror film, and it’s more than a science fiction film. This is a piece of cinematic artwork that keeps you guessing as it tugs at every uncomfortable emotion it possibly can before abandoning you, not without closure or clarity, but with an awareness for the state of our society and a willingness to do something in the name of stagnating its spiral into darkness. This film could not have come at a better time.

Mad God is available on Shudder and AMC+.