From the opening of the film, the fast moving shots elicited a sense of energy and a sets a frantic pace for the "action" of the film. The montages of lights felt almost like a sci-fi movie combined with the pacing of a horror movie's climactic scenes. As the film rhythmically returns to an almost grotesque red hue, it reminds me a lot of the fast, jerky, gory cuts of some older horror movies I've seen; maybe it's because I'm currently working on a horror/suspense movie and I'm in that mindset. To me, the longer shots which show a rough texture running across the scene kind of resembles the victim running away.
At about 4 minutes in, this kind of shot is followed by a full moon overlaid with a rather foreboding face looking foreword, into the camera. In my current mindset, it kind of comes off as a werewolf staring at it's prey, which in this case would be the viewer, which makes me feel a bit disconcerted. The red and black would, in this case, symbolize the end of the hunt as the motions in the shots has slowed. After this, the fast-paced close-ups kind of resemble some guilt over what the killer had done. However, this doesn't last as the shots of the sky and the solar flare kind of object convey that the stars are controlling his blood lust and the killer's control is slipping.
At about 7 or so minutes in, the film becomes blank, which is reflecting the consciousness of the killer as he acts completely on instinct. Following the blank state, the screen turns to red. Another victim is slain. The killer comes to in a state of grotesque chaos, which is shown through the rapid and almost angry motion of the lines. The pacing slows down and the colors become more rhythmic and comprehensible, he is trying to gather his wits about him and figure out what he should do.
There is movement, perhaps it is the killer walking away from the scene. The motions start rather slowly, but then the red scenes are splashed in a quick succession as he flashes back on the things he's done that night. All he sees in his head are the blood and the moon, i.e. the red scenes overlaid with the shape that resembles a solar eclipse.
Once he returns to the city, he is disoriented by the flashing lights as he makes his way home. However the heavens aren't done with him yet as the shot of the sky is played yet again. He stares down a car, singling out his prey amidt the sea of lights. . This is represented by the headlight. As he transforms yet again, the headlight begins to shake more and more as the beast lunges on the car to get at the victim. This is at around 11:25. Quickly the scene fast forwards, and we see shots of the woods tinted red. The killer is dragging his victim through the trees to enjoy his prize in peace.
At this point, I'm going to cut my commentary short as it is getting quite late. I conclude that Brakhage's work is very interesting with a theme of red upon very frantic montages of shots overlaid upon each other. While, I'm pretty sure the material is abstract in nature, a fairly in depth story can be told through his rhythm between shots as well as the colors and lines that can help convey emotions that may be on par with some of the acting performances in Hollywood.
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