eire-83095

This film has a high production value, but with all that budget they couldn't be bothered to do some actual fact checking and research on the setting they chose? It's very lazy and ignorant in times of globalization and the whole story seems so ridiculously based on the preconceptions of someone who's never set a foot in Switzerland and imagines all of Europe as the same dark medieval place, where every village hosts a Count Dracula. Switzerland has a very distinct political history and was not a country with aristocracy. There wouldn't have been an evil baron oppressing peasants in the era they claim it happened. The swiss locals of that region speak swiss-german dialect, wich sounds clearly different than the high german spoken throughout the movie, even to non-native ears. Swiss police officers in the 21st century wear modern uniforms, even in remote mountain villages. All of these blatant errors threw off my suspension of disbelief more than the paranormal stuff, wich is to be expected in this movie genre. But overall i give it 6 stars for the mood, visuals, production and actors.

I never understood the hype surrounding this film... yes toni colette's performance is phenomenal. She carved way more out of her character and the storyline than there was essentially in the script and vision of the author/director. There are so many little details throughout the whole setting that are so unrealistic and incoherent that i simply can not suspend my disbelief. First to begin: so the mother is a miniature artist but her workshop is spotless and dust free whatsoever -but that's not how this kind of craft works in real life! And more importantly: why is her and gabriel byrne's (two unmistakably anglosaxon people) son middle eastern??? And why does the daughter have to look so odd and also not resemble anyone in the family other than for a forced creepiness factor?? I can't understand those casting and costume choices at all.

Movie is an okay gothic mystery... but Christian Bale is the god of acting. And Harry Melling does a fantastic job too! Not to mention Gillian Anderson... so 10/10 for the casting and actors. It's worth watching this movie just because of them.

Script wise not a remarkable story in any ways, but it's solidly executed and the very belivable performance of the actors is what makes or breaks it in this case... and they all quite delightfully deliver! So yes, if you like spooky mysteries but mostly want to get blown away by some serious acting performances -this is the movie for you. Honestly the plot is kinda mediocre, but the acting so unproportionally stellar that i cannot in good conscience not recommend to watch this!