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Emotions are pretty big, for good reason, and both Krause and Lowe play them with serious intent, revealing how their deep love for each other has become tinged by years of entirely different feelings. Krause vividly depicts May's imagination as it spins ahead, flickering into scenes that depict possible outcomes of this situation, while connecting it to their childhood together. And perhaps because there's some tension between them, Lowe's sparky desperation to find a solution is hugely compelling.

For such a tightly constructed film, it's unusual that the story goes internal rather than drumming up a random external threat. The contrast between claustrophobic underwater photography and sunny shoreline action is vivid. So even if there are quite a few sequences that chronicle uninteresting activities, seemingly to show attention to detail while padding out the running time, the driving through-line of this sibling relationship is what keeps the audience gripped, hoping against hope for a positive outcome. This also makes the mere idea of one of them dying far more terrifying than anything that we see on-screen.

themes, language, violence

18.Jul.23

Characters have a striking clarity, each with his or her own personality quirks, obsessions, interests and sense of humour. Zada cleverly plays observant Donya's deadpan conversational style, which is hugely engaging especially when she tries to cut through the bluster. Her scenes with Turkington are revelatory and often very funny. But then all of the people around Donya are fascinating, full of life and unique in the way they click with her. The scenes with White have wonderfully delicate layers.

There isn't much plot, and characters don't go through major personal arcs either. Instead, this is the kind of film that gets under the skin by seeking out a fresh mindset. This is a gorgeous exploration of how it feels to search for a sense of safety and belonging after being uprooted from home. Donya is comforted by the Afghans she sees each morning and night, but she's also aware that this new home needs to be explored more fully for her to feel truly alive.

themes, language

9.Aug.23

Valdes nicely underplays Carla, the central figure in the story, as she deals with her own trauma and the erratic behaviour of Reyes' rather overconfident Dean. Both reveal their own insecurities has they have contact with the spirit followers. These people are played with a broader brush as a faithful gang who intone about nature's purity while holding wacky dance-and-howl rituals. A few of these people register as individuals, although they're all almost comically earnest.

While much of this cult's spiritist mumbo jumbo is enjoyably ridiculous, there are some intriguingly provocative angles to the nuttiness on display. For example, perhaps it's true that sometimes we need to behave like animals to remind us of our connection to nature. But as the story continues, it becomes clear that the main goal is to offer traditional Wicker Man-esque cinematic nastiness, complete with some superbly grisly makeup effects. After the solid set-up, the story doesn't really go anywhere. But the original approach makes it worth a look.

themes, language, violence

2.Aug.23