First Look: Black Swan

Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan, which will open the Venice Film Festival in a few weeks, is a  decidedly creepy take on the often-romanticized world of professional ballet. Natalie Portman stars as a promising dancer, Nina, selected for the lead role in the company’s production of Swan Lake–a production dramatically costumed entirely by Rodarte‘s Mulleavy sisters. But when a rivalry develops between Nina and another rising star (Mila Kunis), a darker—and potentially avian—aspect of Portman’s character is revealed. The adversaries develop a bizarre relationship, and Nina starts sprouting feathers. If the just-released trailer is any indication, the film has all the makings of a truly terrifying thriller, complete with an evil over-bearing mother, a weird girl-on-girl makeout scene, and The Crow-like eye makeup.