The Wind

Due to its non-linear storytelling, 'The Wind' can be a very difficult movie to follow. The film simultaneously plays in three different times. If you can wrap your head around these different times, it is easy to follow and it becomes very clear which period you're looking at.

'The Wind' grabbed me from the mysterious opening scene, and then became spine chillingly creepy and suspenseful. In the vein of 'The Witch' (especially) and 'Hereditary', this film is much deeper than meets the eye, and rather disturbing. The film takes us on a roller coaster ride of fear, deception, infidelity, and absolute evil.

Caitlin Gerard is very good as Lizzy, the film's heroin. Director Emma Tammi did an incredible job ensuring a constant foreboding atmosphere. (Interestingly enough, there's hardly any wind in the film...)

"The Wind" follows a young woman and her husband who attempt to make a settlement in New Mexico in the late 19th century. They are the only people on the plain until another young couple arrives and moves into an adjacent derelict cabin. Both women share a common experience: There seems to be something living in the surrounding land that is trying to destroy them.

First off, I am a major fan of Western horror films, and frankly believe there are not enough of them--this period in U.S. history is ripe for horror movies, but it doesn't seem to be mined nearly as much as it could--so from that alone, I was thrilled at the concept of this film.

Director Emma Tammi really nails it here in terms of mood and atmosphere; the film is impeccably dressed, beautifully shot, and evokes a consistent dread that seems to close in on the protagonist. The narrative is told in a fragmented, non chronological manner, which might frustrate some, but it allows for a few clever juxtapositions and plot developments that wouldn't be possible otherwise, so it serves a purpose. Caitlin Gerard delivers a great performance here as pioneer woman Lizzy, the tormented lead. Hers eclipses the other performances from the small cast, and Julia Goldani Telles, though decent, seems miscast here. There are a few minor inconsistencies here in terms of the characters' appearances, as they all look far too primped and pressed for pioneers living in brutal conditions--but that aside, the period is well-represented.

The final act is where the film's screenplay starts to show its cracks. The explanation behind the events, albeit ultimately vague, is not entirely satisfying--it feels in some ways arbitrary, and the mythos is not fleshed out enough for the audience to ultimately care; it feels like a tacked-on afterthought that has little to support it. Despite this, though, I still found the film entertaining and at times thrilling. As far as Western horrors go, "The Wind" is a fine (albeit flawed) entry. 6/10.

I had high hopes for this movie. The trailer reminded me of The Witch (2015), which is one of my favorite horror movies. But The Wind never grabbed my attention. I told myself that it only had a slow start, but by the end I was simply waiting for it to be over. I thought the two main leads had good performances. I haven't seen Ashley Zukerman in much, but I loved him in Manhattan.

The cinematography was good, some silhouetted shots stood out. The music, especially when something scary happened, didn't really fit.

The story grabbed me at points, trying to uncover the puzzle. But there's really not much to it. If you go in with lowered expectations, and you're into the idea of a slow horror mystery, then there might be something for you here. Otherwise I wouldn't really recommend it.

This film may not be for every horror fan because it is slow paced and flashback oriented, which creates some confusion and boredom. However, the actors were convincing and the cinematography exuded a feeling of true desolation. Several of the scenes were nicely crafted without relying on overt gore or jump scares to frighten the audience.

I thought it was clever to blend an american western period piece with a demonic, neurotic tone.

I think this movie is definately worth a watch and is one of the more original horror films as of late.

The acting is great and it gets the feeling of eerie isolation across well. Rather than being scary thanks to big effects, it relies on subtle and slowly increasingly more obvious sounds and visuals, as well as the (well acted) emotional states of the characters, which I really enjoyed. Would definitely recommend.