Change Your Image
Betzenberg98
Reviews
Pearl (2022)
A Fanciful Tale from 1918 I Can Get Behind
As a history buff who enjoys period films (and watches them almost exclusively) I'm never sure what to expect with the horror genre. Despite some historical inaccuracies (clothing, architecture) and not being a fan of slasher-style violence, I found myself enjoying this film due to its ability to successfully capture the feeling of "homestead fever." Rural life in America during WW1 was difficult enough, but throw in a stern German mother and a vegetable for a father, no support from a husband who is fighting overseas, and you can begin to understand the psychological downspiral of young Pearl. We are able to peel back the layers of her psyche in a fascinating way. The film earns its "horror" badge not by violence or cheap thrills, but by the stark and disturbing desperation behind all of Pearl's shortsighted thoughts and actions.
Utvandrarna (2021)
Historically Innacurate, Poorly Written & Acted.
As a Swedish-American from Chisago County who grew up loving Moberg's books and the Troell films, this film was an absolute shame to watch! It misses nearly every mark, from the filming locations to the acting and sequencing. Somehow, the characters of Karl Oskar and Kristina were made completely lifeless. All of Moberg's research and painstaking efforts from the 1940's that helped create an authentic version of the Swedish immigrant story gets thrown out of the window! Why are we shown huge mountain ranges, steep valleys, and waterways that bare no resemblance to Minnesota and the upper midwest? The actors failed to shed their 21st century mannerisms, unlike Max Von Sydow, Liv Ullman, and the rest of the original cast who were able to play the time period. It was like watching a bunch of high school kids with a sugar high put on a play for their parents. Awful film!