User Reviews

Saw it at Berlinale - Hunter Schafer is good and we, on a emotional level, really believe everything she is asked to do by the director. Her performance ankers this movie, there isn't much to complain about on her part. The main reason why this movie does not work is the main antagonist - from the first time we see him he comes of as strange, not in a creepy or uncanny way which this movie would have needed but like he didn't belong into this movie. The character is obviously supposed to be off-putting and mysterious with an eccentric touch but apart from the latter his performance fails to convey this. The plot gets more and more obscure with time, and it is clear a somewhat logical ending will not be possible. Which a movie does not necessarily need by the way! But it tries to string it together and that does not work, it becomes laughable at times and misses it's mark. Not to mention the irrational choices made by the other family members. Maybe the way it tries to explain itself is what ultimately breaks it. The multiple tonal shifts and pace changes as it gets closer to the credits result in losing emotional connection, but I can see how they could work for some viewers. A performance that really worked besides Schafers is her young sister. The cinematography is good. It may get you with some jump scares but if you are familiar with the genre you will see most of them coming.

Rating: 5.7 Overall, a film that has the elements to be a good horror movie as everything begins to click by the climax, but the movie is held back by its convoluted concept/storytelling and mediocre performances.

Decent Direction (The direction on a macroscale is good as the horror elements are laid out well (even though there are moments where he tries to do a lot); the direction on a microscale is Bad as a lot of the performances do not feel that elevated, and some of the interpersonal scenes feel kinda off/forced; the storytelling is not the best as the conflict is not really explained that well (even though they try to explain it); he builds tension well as the movie is pretty good on a horror/action scale), Pretty Bad to Decent Acting (Pretty Bad from Hunter Schafer (Shows she has some tools to make her a good actress, but it feels like she hits an acting limit in a lot of the interpersonal/emotional scenes because her energy is off from what is needed), Decent from Dan Stevens (Plays the antagonist well and holds his demeanor in a very sinister, yet calm way), Decent from Jessica Henwick (She's really just there in this movie), Pretty Bad to Decent from the rest of the cast (Some actors do have a significant impact on the movie, but some show inexperience and a lack of chemistry; the child actor does a pretty good job with what she is given)), Decent Story (The concept is interesting but a bit convoluted as they try to explain the conflict, but its not done is a coherent way; the plot structure is decent; flow between sequences is not the best in the beginning but gets better towards the halfway point; the character writing is good as they do a good job at showing the different conflicts the protagonist are going through, as well as giving different dimensions to the antagonist and minor characters)), Pretty Bad Screenplay (The dialogue is a little off and not that natural, but overall is decent; the humor is a bit forced, but it is fine for the most part; the symbolism is somewhat there; the foreshadowing is somewhat there, but could be better), Decent Score (Used well to establish the tone and build tension in the horror moments), Decent Cinematography, Pretty Bad Editing (I was not really a fan of how they used the ripple effects to show supernatural powers because I felt it was pretty tacky), Pretty Good Sound (Helps emphasize the horror and supernatural elements), Pretty Bad Visual Effects (Feels kinda tacky and low-budget, especially during the supernatural moments), Pacing is a bit on the slower side for most of the movie (but the movie does find a good pace towards the end), Climax is executed well as it definitely was the scariest part (and it felt like all the elements were finally coming together), Tone was very similar to other supernatural horror movies, Saw the International Premiere at SXSW; This movie does have tools to be a good horror movie (but it just feels like this was a test run for a very new director, I would love to see him do a follow-up where he learns from this experience)

Hunter Schafer is a trip. She's such a good actress. Her performing and bandwidth of expressions are just stunning and she carries the entire movie. Dan Stevens role is such a prefect crafted character as well and so brilliantly put on screen by him. That Jessica, Martone and Greta are brilliant actors we knew before and they again do a very good job in Tilman Singers quirky odd suspense horror flick. Production Design, camera work, sound, music and styling and FX make up are you state of the art and not what one would expect from a movie shot in NRW Germany...congratulations to the whole team, and also to who ever has been in charge assembling it...

I really enjoyed this one. Got to watching it at Berlinale Film Festival.

The Performances were all really good even though all the actors tried something different.

Main Standout to me is Hunter Schafer who has her first leading role. She gets to do a lot of emotional and intense stuff.

This is the 2nd Feature of director Tilman Singer and for me its a 2 for 2.

Also loved the style with it being shot on 35mm.

Jarring and interesting editing choices really works in the Films favor.

Like Singers previous film, Luz, the soundtrack is perfect. Again composed by Simon Waskow.

I could see why people wouldn't like this movie but it really worked for me.