Repulse

What's the difference between watching Repulse and a snail crawl across a dew-soaked meadow? None, zero, zip. They're both achingly slow. At least Repulse has a little dialog. Not much, but just enough to at least keep my interest.

The tagline for Repulse reads: The darkest and most disturbing Czech movie ever produced. Was it? Too bad because I've seen other European films that make repulse look like Barney & Friends.

What initially got me interested in watching this needlessly drawn-out affair was the fact it was mentioned in the same sentence as other gore-filled films like Inside and Martyrs. Was it even close to those? Nope, not by a longshot.

What also made me give Repulse a low rating was the acting of the child's mother. While everyone else was okay, her exaggerated, hammy acting brought the proceedings down. I would've said this was a one-star flick, but the cinematography was very crisp and clear and set design was very well done. Otherwise, Repulse should be considered a pass. Sorry.

A dark drama? Elements of horror?

Look, horror and dark shouldn't be mistaken for movies like Martyrs, Human centipede, Saw or A serbian film.

Movies that tend to shock more than anything, than presenting a decent plot, are usually a waste of time for me.

Torture porn, or extreme gore are cheap shortcuts into getting a production associated with the greater horror, shocker, twister of a film.

This one fell flat from the beginning, it was hard to stay connected to it, even tho it has some positives, like camera work, filming, acting.

But the movie itself, didn't work for me, it tried and I guess succeeding in a non linear storyline, a thing presentes from the very start, but offered very little. I can't associate it with any in the woods horror, no real drama, no tension, no nail bitting so sadly I have to say Repulse is a swing and a miss.

I had no expectations when I started it, but quickly realised I will not enjoy this one. Barely made it to the end, a struggle really, the only good thing about this journey is the run time that stands at 90 min.

I can't say that I simply didn't understand it, but it doesn't fit anywhere and it's not a great way to pass the time. Thus I will not recommend it.

Cheers!