Black Journal

Black Journal

Directed by Mauro Bolognini

Produced by Triangolo Film, Produzioni Atlas Consorziate

1977112 min5.5 / 10

A darkly surreal psychological thriller about a deranged mother's supernatural bargain with death, blending horror, dark comedy, and moral transgression in a claustrophobic apartment setting.

A mother so insanely overprotective of her grown son decides to make a deal with death by offering alternate victims plucked from among her fellow tenants in a 1938 Italian apartment building.

Questions people ask

  • Is Black Journal scary? Yes, very. More frightening than 94% of films.

  • Does Black Journal end with hope? No. Less hopeful than 91% of films.

  • Is Black Journal easy watching? Not especially. Less comforting than 74% of films.

  • Is Black Journal violent? Somewhat. More violent than 68% of films.

  • Is Black Journal sad? Somewhat. More sad than 61% of films.

These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.

23/ 100

Cinnamon Score

How much this film gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.

Conventional, and it does not land.

Rarity62

How unlike any other film this one feels

Surprise14

How much more it delivers than it promises

Love8

How much audiences actually like it

The highest scores in the catalogue →

Ensemble

Like Black Journal

Nearest across the full emotional profile.

Same Mood as Black Journal

Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.

Like Black Journal, But Darker

Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.

Like Black Journal, But Lighter

Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.

Like Black Journal, But Less Popular

Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.

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