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The script is too locked into its horror roots to make much of the characters, and they do pretty much what's expected of them. Meutelet has the strongest role, as the cocky Henry is forced to reckon with his vulnerability on a journey that's both physical and mental. For Meesters' Max, the main challenge is to overcome his crippling fear, which at least adds some sympathy with the character. Sonia is far less defined, but Lesaffre plays up her intelligence and tenacity.

There aren't many deeper themes at work here, as writing and direction maintain a focus on the more elemental story ingredients, most notably the characters' fear. With the presence of the skinheads, and the fact that they seem to have discovered a vast Nazi bunker, there are some bigger topics lurking around the edges. But the filmmakers are more interested in adding grotesque violence at every step along the way. So if it's never very scary, at least there's some nasty claustrophobia and gleeful yuckiness for the fans.

themes, language, violence

22.Aug.22

At the centre of virtually every shot, Karpenko finds terrific nuance as this frazzled woman tenaciously holds things together. Her darker feelings are only occasionally visible, because she reins them in so she can get on with whatever daunting task she has to take on next. As events close in around Anna, Karpenko adeptly reveals her steely resolve, so Anna takes a stand for integrity even when things begin to feel hopeless. This leads to a series of pungent scenes in which various women confront each other about issues relating to motherhood.

The desperation Anna faces will be instantly recognisable for anyone who isn't wealthy. It's astonishing how quickly mounting hospital bills shift her situation from a tight budget to potential financial ruin. Even more shocking is how the cold-hearted system leaves her high and dry, as do people she needs to rely on for assistance. So while Tynkevych's approach feels sometimes forensic, it has larger ramifications that will echo around the world, highlighting one of the harsher aspects of modern society.

themes, language

15.Aug.22

Galan's performance has a visceral honesty to it that's deeply engaging right from the start. It's astonishing to be able to feel each one of Sara's messy emotions as the narrative progresses, reacting to the various people who hurt or help her, continually shifting balance of power under her feet. The surrounding characters are equally vivid, most notably Machi as Sara's overpowering mother. Even Holmes adds layers to his sinister stranger, shifting the film in directions that are much darker than expected.

The way the story presses in on Sara is astonishingly visceral, so her climactic explosion of rage is fully understandable. But then, each of the film's most intense moments is played with an uncanny resonance. Frankly, when a serial killer is the first person to ask Sara if she's OK, we know we're someplace far beyond the banal moral platitudes most movies throw at us. This turns the usual horror set-pieces on their heads, heightening the dramatic tension rather than the cheap scares.

themes, language, violence

22.Aug.22