Following the lives of four people as they descend into drug addiction, Requiem for a Dream provides a terrifying look into the implications of drug abuse. This is not a film for the faint of heart. Requiem for a Dream is gritty, it is heavy, it is terrifying, yet it is beautiful in a haunting sort of way. The title encapsulates these themes so perfectly as to almost give away the movie; the dream is lost, it is being mourned, but why? And the score is so perfect: every note carrying with it the weight of the entire film. Clint Mansell has proven that he is one of the greatest composers in the film industry. The acting is fantastic, as each actor demonstrates their diversity as their character progresses further into the hopelessness of drug addiction. Requiem for a Dream does have a different style in terms of cinematography. While perhaps there is an excessive amount of chaos in the way the film is shot, I think it reflects the calamity in the characters' lives, something that could not have been achieved through more conventional cinematography. Overall, Requiem for a Dream is a fantastic film which will undoubtably have a profound effect on the viewer.