Family Dinner

Who cares what genre it is; it's a combination of all three, and while you've seen films with similar plot lines like this before, you know what to expect and even how it might turn out, but it's still worth the watch to get there.

This is a slow burn film, with no wasted scenes or padding, with believable and sympathetic actors, and you don't really have to suspend disbelief because the girl and the boy act like real kids would act around parents and adults. True, the girl is a bit smarter at the end than you may have thought she should be, but since it's only one small contrivance, it was acceptable as it was needed to get to a satisfying conclusion.

The film was advertised as a domestic horror film and the mood and the location was very well met. In terms of action, the whole film takes place on a farm in the countryside (Lower Austria), the actors are all very convincing and were well chosen. Pia Hierzegger is of course fantastic as the aunt, very believable.

The label horror film is too strong for me, although it certainly fits into the genre, but measured against today's usual horror films, the film is already rather harmless, more psychological thriller. Also, the film offers little surprising.

The story: overweight teenager Simi visits aunt Claudia, a nutrition expert, in the countryside (with hopes to be helped with dieting), with (newly married) uncle Stefan and cousin Fillip (from the first marriage of the aunt). Simi feels uncomfortable from the beginning, the cousin a creep, the aunt strict, the uncle too nice?

I felt they got inspired by films like "Get Out," "The Wicker Man," as well as some Hammer films from the sixties. Without giving more away, you definitely guess what the whole thing is leading up to in the course of the film. That's what I meant by unsurprising. I was missing a twist that would change your view of the story and question your perception, so to speak, but that twist doesn't come. Conclusion: well done, but not top notch.

At the end of the Lenten fast, a plump girl visits her aunt, an expert cook, at her remote farmhouse, where things seem a little ... off.

Grimm's fairy-tale meets mild body-horror. The narrative is kinda plain - if you substitute a wicked witch in a house in the forest, you're most of the way there. But the body-horror aspect is dignified by associations with the sacrifice of Jesus and the notion of cannibalism as a rite of rebirth, plus an unfussy portrait of animal death. Not really my genre, but in this form more 'tasteful' than the lurid stuff that's been a staple of French and Canadian films for decades.

The pace is sedate, the performances reserved, and the music is barely perceptible, just nudging us into a sense of dread. At times the intimacy of the whispered voices is intense, a nice effect. But the standout for me is the character of Simi, who has an intriguing mix of impassive innocence and savage resilience.

This is an Austrian production, and I have to say their Slavic neighbours do this kind of macabre with a greater sense of wonder and mystery - and humour. And a final oddity is that the German word Schei*e is translated into a more forceful word in English.

Overall: Simple story that just about fills its dress.

P.s. I do practice fasting and low-carb, and it's clear the writer didn't think to do his research.

No pun intended - someone who supposedly is good at diets, should be able to help a family member out, right? Well you would think that, but on the other hand, it seems like she has issues to keep her own son in check, so maybe she is not the best person to get advice from.

Now overall I assume most will know (predict) where the movie is going. You will not get bonus points (or brownies for that matter), if you guess that right. Even the weirdly placed wooden ritual thing is very on the nose. Still, this is a first time filmmaker (feature length that is) and maybe you are able to cut him some slack for that.

The performances are good, though quite understated. As intended I assume. There is insanity, but there could be more. There is some logic to it all, but there could be way better decision making. From all involved ... but it is what it is. Either go with the flow or leave it be.

A slow moving, atmospheric, uncomfortable viewing is not going to be everyone's cup of tea... but there was something I quite liked about this one. It viscerally makes you uncomfortable and I love when a movie is able to do that. The acting is pretty great all around as well, everyone had very solid moments.

There truly wasn't all that much to the story here. There were hints of folk horror aspects here and there but nothing was ever really explained or elaborated on. This kept up the air of mystery, but I would have loved a little more just as far as a semblance of a solidified story's sake goes... that was a little lacking for me. But as a whole experience, it was a positive for me. 5.5 rounding up to a 6. Would recommend.