3.5/5
Roberto Rossellini’s The Machine That Kills Bad People is way more fun than I expected it to be. A parable about the selfishness and corruption of humanity – and the perils of self-righteousness, the blending of fantastical elements with some of Rossellini’s neorealist approaches to filmmaking creates a charming and delightful bit of magical realism. The practical effects are a real treat here, and the ways in which our protagonists goes about ridding his small town of “bad people” is absurd and hilarious. The final moments, while they might cause some to conclude that the film is just a trifle, are the perfect button to wrap up this little fable of greed and zealotry. It may not be one of Rossellini’s masterpieces, but it is exceedingly charming.
