Right from its opening frame to its final plot twist, Darren Aronofsky’s psychological masterpiece Black Swan never lets you off the hook. It’s an almost perfect film with an equally transcendental performance from Natalie Portman, who won a Golden Globe (and Oscar nomination) for her role as a tortured young ballerina who must prove to herself that she has what it takes to play the two leading roles in Tchaikovsky’s beloved Swan Lake—to devastating effect.Nina (Portman) is a gifted but obsessed ballerina who is handed the lead in the New York Ballet Company’s production of Swan Lake by Vincent Cassel’s talented but manipulative director Thomas, after he decides to ditch his aging star Beth (a shockingly brilliant Winona Ryder, in a minor role). The part naturally requires Nina to embody the character of the pure, virginal White Swan as well as the seductive and sensual Black Swan.Nina’s innocence stands her in perfect stead to dance the White Swan but her childlike treatment at the hands of her domineering mother Erica (Barbara Hershey)—embodied by her pink bedroom full of cuddly toys—steals the necessary life experience she needs to successfully perform the Black Swan. Complications arise when Nina notices that Thomas is also interested in a fellow dancer—the street smart and sexually charged Lily (a sensational Mila Kunis)—who has just the right spunk to play the Black Swan. And that’s when the immense pressure of trying to dance both parts equally well—coupled with the emergence of Lily—starts to have a damaging effect on Nina’s mind.Under Aronofsky’s tight framing and grainy imagery with the help of cinematographer Matthew Libatique (the film must be seen in the cinemas to experience its texture in full effect), we’re transported into a nightmarish world governed by the physical and mental ravages resulting from Nina’s dedication to her art. Throw in some sexy moments when Nina and Lily get it on and some fantastical horror imagery (Nina’s obsession with her role sees her physically turning into a swan—in her twisted head at least), Black Swan is a sight to behold. And with all-round compelling performances, especially from Portman, whose transformation from vulnerable to vivacious is frighteningly real as Nina’s psyche gets flushed down the terminal abyss, this is the stuff that dreams—or in this case, beautiful nightmares—are made of. Miss this at your own peril.