The Wind will clearly not entice every audience. Its pacing is a slowly-drawn curtain, and its story allows the question posed in many horror films: Is the light from the sun's rise or setting?
More plainly, is the horror psychological or supernatural?
Not everyone appreciates these tactics in film-making and, while both are right up my alley, I won't blame others for losing patience. I should've also identified the non-linear storytelling from the jump as well, as that part actually does sap my personal enjoyment a tad. It's not hard to follow, yet a well-told chronological series of events tends to flow better, even if it doesn't hide a proverbial ace up its sleeve as well.
But those aren't the burning issues I take with The Wind. It's one thing to have a serviceable plot. It's another thing to immerse an audience into its setting. And The Wind simply failed to convince me that it shouldn't have been a modern re-imagining.
The set and props were convincing enough for the most part, though certain pieces (mostly linens) appeared so clean and mass-produced as to make me wince. But fine, positive points for effort.
As for character design and dialogue? Accent, mannerisms, postures, body language - none of these were researched by any stretch of the imagination. I'd say the characters were modern 20-somethings LARPing as 19th-century frontier folk, but that would be giving them too much credit, as LARPers tend to take their roles seriously and would have at least attempted some lilts or drawls. Maybe instead of asking, "Are you pregnant?" one would try, "Are ye with child?" Something to yank us out of our modern sensibilities, even if it isn't entirely accurate.
It may seem a petty reason for docking so many stars. You're entitled to that belief. But as a caution to others like myself: If you're looking to wholly step into a period piece for your horror experience, this ain't it.
