Shadowboy_25cm
Joined Jun 2021
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Ratings6.8K
Shadowboy_25cm's rating
Reviews283
Shadowboy_25cm's rating
A cinematic experiment, not a word is spoken (except in a short sequence of Esperanto). The movie is somewhere between horror, end-time movie and thriller, and has some drama sprinkles, but overall stays true to end-time horror and tells a story about an occult community living in the forest that hunts people to sacrifice them to zombie-like humanoids with extremely burnt skin.
Samara Weaving and her partner Nathan Stewart-Jarrett (known from the series Misfits or the Candyman remake from 2021) are captured, separated from each other and the viewer accompanies Samara Weaving throughout the entire length of the film. We are close to her and basically only know what she knows.
I won't say any more about the plot, which I knew nothing about before watching the film, except that it is a film without dialog.
The ending is open to interpretation.
The setting is somehow apocalyptic and this occult community follows a religious delusion, but you don't really learn much about worldbuilding because the forest is never left.
The movie is pretty rough and gory in places, the original score feels 80s Electro Carpenter light, the effects are practical throughout and know how to convince. I had slight Fulci vibes here and there. Technically, the movie is very well filmed and the camera work knows how to captivate me.
Samara Weaving is convincing with her physical action and a bit of dirt and blood, which reminded me of the challenges she already took on in the movie 'Ready or Not' (2019).
Deductions are made in the 'logic' that the people didn't learn sign language to communicate with each other. Wouldn't that make sense for a cult that demonizes speaking in general to communicate with hand signs? Probably not.
Further deductions: There are situations where the movie could have basically ended, but then deus ex machina plot twists come along to move the story along. I think the script should have come up with a different solution or been consistent. You can tell that the makers have built up some mystery elements and would like to continue them or reveal them towards the end.
A curiosity: the actors' role names are shown in the end credits. They play no role in the movie itself or for the viewer, as they are not revealed.
As I said, the movie is an experiment and the setting sets guidelines and thus forces a lot of things, which also brings with it some limitations in the storytelling. If you accept that, you might enjoy the movie.
The movie positively surprised me in some places.
I found it interesting to be thrown into this speechless world and to have to find my way around like the main character, which unfortunately means that the identification with the character and the gripping nature of the story suffers. But, after a while, the movie has me, because I am close to the main character. Gripping, bloody, interesting.
Samara Weaving and her partner Nathan Stewart-Jarrett (known from the series Misfits or the Candyman remake from 2021) are captured, separated from each other and the viewer accompanies Samara Weaving throughout the entire length of the film. We are close to her and basically only know what she knows.
I won't say any more about the plot, which I knew nothing about before watching the film, except that it is a film without dialog.
The ending is open to interpretation.
The setting is somehow apocalyptic and this occult community follows a religious delusion, but you don't really learn much about worldbuilding because the forest is never left.
The movie is pretty rough and gory in places, the original score feels 80s Electro Carpenter light, the effects are practical throughout and know how to convince. I had slight Fulci vibes here and there. Technically, the movie is very well filmed and the camera work knows how to captivate me.
Samara Weaving is convincing with her physical action and a bit of dirt and blood, which reminded me of the challenges she already took on in the movie 'Ready or Not' (2019).
Deductions are made in the 'logic' that the people didn't learn sign language to communicate with each other. Wouldn't that make sense for a cult that demonizes speaking in general to communicate with hand signs? Probably not.
Further deductions: There are situations where the movie could have basically ended, but then deus ex machina plot twists come along to move the story along. I think the script should have come up with a different solution or been consistent. You can tell that the makers have built up some mystery elements and would like to continue them or reveal them towards the end.
A curiosity: the actors' role names are shown in the end credits. They play no role in the movie itself or for the viewer, as they are not revealed.
As I said, the movie is an experiment and the setting sets guidelines and thus forces a lot of things, which also brings with it some limitations in the storytelling. If you accept that, you might enjoy the movie.
The movie positively surprised me in some places.
I found it interesting to be thrown into this speechless world and to have to find my way around like the main character, which unfortunately means that the identification with the character and the gripping nature of the story suffers. But, after a while, the movie has me, because I am close to the main character. Gripping, bloody, interesting.
What is going on in this episode. Just hilarious and wow!
Yes, this episode is totally ninja, very dense, very over-the-top and has a subplot that prepares for the finale four episodes ahead.
This might have been a two episodes arc but then it would be slower paced and too repetitive. Good decission and a great episode.
What is going on in this episode. Just hilarious and wow!
Yes, this episode is totally ninja, very dense, very over-the-top and has a subplot that prepares for the finale four episodes ahead.
This might have been a two episodes arc but then it would be slower paced and too repetitive. Good decission and a great episode
Blew me away.
Yes, this episode is totally ninja, very dense, very over-the-top and has a subplot that prepares for the finale four episodes ahead.
This might have been a two episodes arc but then it would be slower paced and too repetitive. Good decission and a great episode.
What is going on in this episode. Just hilarious and wow!
Yes, this episode is totally ninja, very dense, very over-the-top and has a subplot that prepares for the finale four episodes ahead.
This might have been a two episodes arc but then it would be slower paced and too repetitive. Good decission and a great episode
Blew me away.
Without spoiling too much - the trailers have already done that and if you haven't seen them yet and don't know anything about the movie, you'd better stick with it so as not to be deprived of some surprises - let me say this much:
Interesting premise, some nice subtle and clever ideas in this genre mix, the first half of the movie works wonderfully, but from about the second half onwards the plot gets more and more logic and pacing problems. This is counteracted by the constantly fast pace of the plot, which leaves the viewer little time to think about what is being shown. Nevertheless, as the plot progresses, the holes in the plot get bigger and bigger. In addition, established rules are ignored or reasserted at will in the course of the plot, which often leads to head-shaking.
Sophia Thatcher as Iris is great. I know her from the series 'Yellowjackets' and her acting is great. With her recent roles in films like 'Heretic' (2024), 'MaXXXine' (2024), 'The Boogeyman' (2023) and also here, as well as with the series 'Yellowjackets', she seems to have carved out a place for herself in the horror genre where she feels comfortable. I'm very excited to see what else she will come up with.
Jack Quaid as Josh is also great in his role and the development of his character in the movie is very cool. Jack Quaid is very versatile - probably best known for his role as Hughie Campbell in the series 'The Boys' - and he likes to show this convincingly with his choice of roles.
The supporting cast is also convincing, I would like to highlight Lucas Gage ('Smile 2', 2024) as Patrick and Harvey Guillén ('What We Do in the Shadows', 2019-2025) as Eli.
Great cast, good production values, interesting premise, assured direction, but: the plot gets increasingly bogged down from the second half onwards.
An entertaining movie, and if you turn a blind eye here and there (suspension of disbelief), you'll have fun until the end.
Sophia Thatcher as Iris is great. I know her from the series 'Yellowjackets' and her acting is great. With her recent roles in films like 'Heretic' (2024), 'MaXXXine' (2024), 'The Boogeyman' (2023) and also here, as well as with the series 'Yellowjackets', she seems to have carved out a place for herself in the horror genre where she feels comfortable. I'm very excited to see what else she will come up with.
Jack Quaid as Josh is also great in his role and the development of his character in the movie is very cool. Jack Quaid is very versatile - probably best known for his role as Hughie Campbell in the series 'The Boys' - and he likes to show this convincingly with his choice of roles.
The supporting cast is also convincing, I would like to highlight Lucas Gage ('Smile 2', 2024) as Patrick and Harvey Guillén ('What We Do in the Shadows', 2019-2025) as Eli.
Great cast, good production values, interesting premise, assured direction, but: the plot gets increasingly bogged down from the second half onwards.
An entertaining movie, and if you turn a blind eye here and there (suspension of disbelief), you'll have fun until the end.