The greatest contribution -- apart from the central performances -- comes from Francis, whose wonderful black and white, widescreen photography lends atmosphere and clarity to the proceedings.

A moving, faithful retelling of a bizarre true story.

It's an amazing story about the human spirit that's told with great sensitivity.

One of the year's best films. Only DeNiro could take the Oscar away from John Hurt.

Revisiting a terrain similar to Eraserhead, albeit in different style, Lynch exposes undercurrents of metaphysical anguish along with an emotionally accessible tale of Merrick's nobility--a Victorian morality play disguised as an elegy to freakishness

Has the look and texture of an authentic document, elevated by the hand of a artist with a singular vision

This black-and-white film already includes several Lyncian benchmarks: hissing noises, nightmare sequences, and moments of deadly quiet.

A marvellous movie, shot in stunning black-and-white by Freddie Francis.