Search - Marilyn Manson: Demystifying the Devil on DVD

Could've been much better

A. Klein | Bogotá, Colombia | 03/21/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This documentary, like pretty much anything else, has both its strong and weak elements. The strong? The way Marilyn Manson is shown on his more "human" side is a big plus. People tend to look at him from what they see on his more commercial side, but don't really bother to think that he, like all of us, is a human being and behaves like one.
Locating and interviewing people like his former girlfriend and the woman who took charge of all the early fan mail is a good element as well. The interview with Gidget Gein (former bassist) is definitely one of the best elements in the film.
The weak? There are many parts in the film that could've been removed or taken as bonus features. Instead of showing more insightful views on the whole subject, we are stuck with plenty of irrelevant material (home videos where the content might perhaps interest gossip magazines but not for someone who's trying to find a deeper view on the man and subject as such). And the film tends to attack Manson in such a way that he's portrayed as a person who simply wants to sell records, using different methods like the supposed antichristianity, and the "new" image he had during the release of Mechanical Animals. What they failed to see, in my opinion, is that he represents what he wants to express. The views they show are based on their own interpretations (and the people that are interviewed about it), which is in itself, a subjective and biased view on what Manson has tried to express, and his impact in our culture. This could've been taken into a deeper level, instead of showing a band member trying to get high on liquid paper.
Overall, it's a good buy, especially for Manson fans, of course. But for those who are looking for a deeper view on the subject, i can only recommend a few fragments of the film."