Where does one even begin to describe the absolute psychotic acid trip of a movie that Helene Cattet and Bruno Forzani made together, amply titled Reflection in a Dead Diamond — which could also be the name of an old 007 tale oddly enough. The movie itself plays as an Italian genre bending Bond movie, that time shifts between past and present through reality and fantasy featuring an old leading man, sitting in a hotel room stuck in a hellish nightmare that is stuck between his on screen persona and personal career in a zigzag jumping shift adventure that is so non-linear but works in its absolute favour. Reflection in a Dead Diamond needs an open mind, but if you allow yourself to get lost in this mismatched chaotic nightmare fuel there is a hell of a ride to enjoy. This is a movie that is the pure definition of pulp, so sit back and chug through the pulpiness for this adrenaline fueled action ride.
The film focuses on John D (Fabio Testi when he’s old, and Yannick Renier as he’s young) going through a kaleidoscope effect of an old mission that is bleeding through to modern day still, or it is simply his mind playing tricks on him. He is staying in a sea side resort and looking out to the waterfront, the visions start happening and the audience is trying to tell fact from fiction from current day to past day, and what is truly happening throughout this chaos. There are a plethora of characters, and essentially a Bond girl (Celine Camara) and the ultimate villain in Serpentik (Barbara Hellemans).
In all honesty, the script that is also penned by Helene Cattet and Bruno Forzani is so inconsistently all over the place with a thousand different twists and turns, to try and decipher entirely what is going on throughout is a task in of itself, so to assume and coherently articulate what unfolds in Reflections in a Dead Diamond is not entirely possible. What is possible is to see the clear homage and attentiveness it pertains to creating a world that is so enriched in 70s spy thrillers, that this has that down to a perfect tee. There is so much chaos and unmitigated mess that occurs throughout, but the sheer scale chaos and enjoyment that is pumped into the blood of this film makes the ride one that is surely worth it.
When looking at performances here, I mean it’s a shlocky over the top 70s inspired and played out spy thriller, no one here looks good by any means but Fabio Testi and Yannick Renier are having a blast in their respective ages, bringing the chaotic adventure to a big fight feel and making sure their broken dialogue, nonsensical decisions and fights are just as ridiculous as the audience anticipates the chaos to unfold throughout the adventure. Even Celine Camara and Barbara Hellemans are over the top and extravagant in their roles making Reflection in a Dead Diamond truly a unique and overtly enjoyable experience.
Everything about Reflection in a Dead Diamond is extreme, over the top, saturated and ridiculous – it’s what makes the movie a delight. There is so much going on, not all of it makes sense, and the performances are incredibly hammed up, but knowing all of this and seeing this lost in translation version of Archer is truly a delight that is sure to please cinephiles with an open mind.
