Rory Doherty InSession Film Jun 13, 2024 B-

While filled with technical splendor, The Blazing World has great ambition but fails to come up with original ways to explore its infinite universe.

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Vadim Rizov Filmmaker Magazine Nov 28, 2022

I had little choice but to take the film at absolute face and textual value. These influences aren’t transfigured beyond the sum of their parts, they’re just familiar window dressing...

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Cody Dericks Next Best Picture Jul 11, 2022 5/10

The visuals may be hypnotic, but they're in service of a valiant effort of a movie rather than a totally mind-bending adventure.

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Christopher Cross Tilt Magazine Apr 10, 2022 3/5

Once The Blazing World begins exploring the metaphysical realm and Margaret attempts her rescue mission, the film blossoms into a sumptuous feast of intricate production design and vibrant colors.

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Josie Meléndez Shuffle Online Mar 7, 2022 B-

"The Blazing World" is an exquisitely rich presentation of imaginative storytelling. It stands as an ambitious and impressive debut from Young.

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Carla Hay Culture Mix Oct 28, 2021

The Blazing World takes the concept of grief as an ongoing nightmare and jumbles it up in an incoherent horror movie. The cinematography is impressive, but the movie ultimately over-indulges in a lot of nonsense.

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Dennis Harvey 48 Hills Oct 22, 2021

Resourceful and accomplished in its way, the film nonetheless feels like an affectedly angsty, juvenile princess fantasy that thinks it's Persona. Young demonstrated chutzpah...but next time I hope her talents focus on something less self-indulgent.

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Rich Cline Shadows on the Wall Oct 21, 2021 3/5

It's a slight problem that everything is so relentlessly full-on. But the outrageous flourishes effectively generate some darkly powerful emotions.

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Daniel M. Kimmel North Shore Movies Oct 18, 2021 2/5

The Blazing World may be visually stunning, but otherwise it quickly burns out.

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Monica Castillo RogerEbert.com Oct 18, 2021 1/4

The Blazing World falls short narratively and visually.

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Todd Jorgenson Cinemalogue Oct 15, 2021

Trying to balance campy with clever, it flashes abundant visual flair yet stumbles in realizing its narrative ambitions.

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Sarah Jane Austin Chronicle Oct 15, 2021 2/5

Overstuffed and overextended, The Blazing World is buoyed by the soundtrack (especially the songs by Isom Innis and Sean Cimino in their project Peel), and the too brief appearance by the wonderful Soko.

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Mark Dujsik Mark Reviews Movies Oct 15, 2021 2/4

It's an admirably imaginative piece, although the narrative's ... predictable trickery ultimately get the better of its visual elements.

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Frank Scheck The Hollywood Reporter Oct 14, 2021

There's plenty of imagination on display in The Blazing World, but it's buried amidst the narrative and stylistic self-indulgence that assumes we'll be interested in going on this very strange and ultimately enervating journey.

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Robert Kojder Flickering Myth Oct 14, 2021 3/5

Carlson Young has settled for style over substance, which is semi-allowable when the work is this entrancing

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Jack Hawkins HeyUGuys Jul 28, 2021 2/5

Young's film is a theme park of self-indulgence that forgoes characters and narratives in favour of gratuitous fantasy.

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Michael Ward Should I See It Jul 26, 2021 3/5

(Carlson) Young is a talented storyteller, with a limitless vision that should hopefully fall more into focus as her career behind the camera evolves.

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Jason Adams The Film Experience Jul 2, 2021

gorgeous phantasmagoria

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Matt Lynch In Review Online Jun 6, 2021

A disarmingly charmless and amateurish series of indie genre check-boxes dressed up as something desperate to be described as "like Alice in Wonderland on acid."

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Abby Olcese The Pitch Apr 16, 2021

The Blazing World displays an almost maddening level of talent and creativity. Here's hoping it's the start of something great.

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