A LATE STARTER

The horror genre is in a sharp decline over the past couple of decades, but things are looking a little less grim over the past two years. Reason for that lays in the smaller scale productions, which seem to be accepting the role of its saviour.

Less money means less effects and more brains. So, there's fewer gore in „The invitation” and more dialogues. They are however, too slow and too empty, even for an indie flick. Overall sense of anxiety picks up the pace at the very end, with the final scene stealing the show. Everything else in between isn't as amusing and as scary as it should be.

„The invitation” is just that. A starter for the real thing which, sadly, doesn't happen.

THE INVITATION - 4/10

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PLAIN DISGUSTING

Child abuse in Catholic church is one of the most popular movie themes in past couple of decades, following the opening of Vatican secret files as well as the global media coverage expansion. The subject itself is deeply disturbing, often treansferring to serious nausea when confronting tha average viewer to the heartbreaking testimonies of the victims.

Argentinian „El Club” follows somewhat different path, depicting a Catholic detention for the proven child abusers in a God forsaken small port city. Former priests live in an undisturbed harmony that will change after the coming of one of the victims that begins to haunt each and everyone of them.

Dialogues between him and the priests revolve solely around his explicit and stomach twisting testimonies that are partially duplicated by the young priest that investigates the case of suicide of one the detentees.

At the end, „El Club” is a movie intended to shock and disgust you, not alert or educate you.

EL CLUB - 5/10

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BRUTAL DEPICTION

Transition. A simple word, a process that every Eastern European country must follow to change its laws and level of law obedience if it wants to become a member of European Union.

Romania is one of those societies, and „Why me?” follows the true story about the young prosecutor set to erradicate corruption personified in his older colleague in a provincial city.  Tripped on every step by his superiors, betrayed by his friends and spouse, young Christian Panduru (Emilian Oprea) will go along the well known path of consistency, followed by self-doubt that ultimately leads to tragedy.

Drama and suspense will be painted on a consternated Emilian's face, giving the necessary depth to the (unfortunately) too well known script.

„Why me?” is a must see for all the people from Eastern Europe and other „transitional states”.

DE CE EU? - 8/10

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TOO SAFE

Modern Danish movie is fascinated by the war in Afghanistan and overseas military missions of local soldiers, so „A War” chooses to follow the well lit path of „Brothers” and „In a better world”.

Unfortunately, unlike Susanne Bier's dramas, „A War” significantly fails to deliver the authencity and suspense expected from this productive and creative small European cinematography. It also doesn't  deliver the much needed sense of reality into characters, leading the story about collateral damage in Afghanistan too „safely” to the very end.

„A War” could've been a great post war drama, but it just isn't, especially coming from the leading spear of modern day cinematic drama, Denmark.

A WAR - 4/10

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GENUINE BALKAN WESTERN

Romanian cinema is one of the better ones in Europe, especially when it comes to depiction of social problems in that country.

„Aferim” is situated in the 19th century Romania under Turkish occupation and revolves around the quest for a Gypsy slave that dared to perform an adultery with a boyar's (nobleman) wife.

Painted with dark humor, sparing none of the protagonists, Radu Jude's movie will dissect the entire Romanian society top to bottom and peel the skin off all the problems plaguing this nation in a eternal transition to nowhere.

„Aferim” is the movie for the people of Balkan to understand and laugh, a very good small dark comedy with an atmosphere of a Western.

AFERIM - 7/10

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TOO ARTIFICIAL

Jafar Panahi is one of the leading Iranian movie directors, especially when it comes to Western audience, hooked on the fact that he was banned from making movies by the satanised local government.

To fight this unjust ban, he decides to pose as a taxi driver and make a omnibus documentary about the social problems in modern Iran. He does it hastly, incoherently and above all, unconvicingly.

There are a lot of better Iranian movies about the social problems in that country than „Taxi Tehran”. Also, there are a lot of better Iranian movies than „Taxi Tehran”. A lot.

TAXI TEHRAN - 3/10

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UNBEARABLY FRIGHTENING

I thought that we didn't need another Holocaust movie. I thought that everything about the concentration camps was said in „Life is beautiful” and „Schindler's list”.

I was so wrong.

This year's Best foreign language movie, „Son of Saul”, is simply the best depiction of the massacre Nazis conducted on the Jews in Second world war up to this moment in cinema history.

It is also one of the most frightening movies ever made, being hyper realistic in its methodical and merciless pace and gradation as we climb down the circles of Auschwitz's hell. Laszlo Nemes's camera is as good as in „Revenant”, maybe even better in hiding the worst attrocities out of focus and clinging to the Saul Auslander's (incredible Geza Rohrig) desperate desire to retain the last piece of humanity and sanity when the world around him is collapsing to the brink of the apocalypse.

There will be no pause during two hour course of this Hungarian hyper-drama, no mercy and no light at the end of the tunnel. „Son of Saul” will break your heart, devour your soul and spit it out. And it should do so, because its task isn't to be liked or watched all over again. Its task is much more important, because it should educate, remind and warn us that these things didn't happen somewhere in the Third world or centuries ago. Holocaust happened to our grandparents, in the very heart of Europe and was conducted by the members of one of the most advanced nations of our civilization.

You must watch „Son of Saul”. I promise you, you will never forget it.

SON OF SAUL - 11/10

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NAIVE, BUT PRETTY INTERESTING

Spanish cinema brings us some truly original ideas, although at the very edge of probability in real life.

Script about the young cop that is forced to pretend to be a prisoner after a mutiny in a jail breaks out on his first day at work is one of those flicks that starts really slowly and unconvicingly, but manages to pick up the pace, develop some really interesting subplots along the way, only to end in a brutal and unexpected way, bearing the trademark of modern Spanish screenwriters.

Alberto Amann and Luis Tesar are really good as leads, absorbing the fact that supporting cast somewhat fails to impress (Marta Etura, Antonio Resines).

„Cell 211” deserves its chance despite its clumsy beginning.

CELDA 211 - 6/10

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PRETTY CONSISTENT

Coming from the prestigious category for Best foreign language movie of the year, „The second mother” brings us classic quality driven real life drama script about the caretaker (Val) deeply embedded in a dysfunctional wealthy Brazilian family. When Val's young and open minded daughter enters this community all hell breaks loose, only to resolve itself in the very end, the way that only non-American dramas can.

Regina Case as a female lead is consistent to the very end, leading a very solid casting to the much needed catharsis without any significant hiccups.

„The second mother” is a true family drama and a very decent one as well.

QUE HORAS QUE VOLTA - 5/10

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REALISTIC ENOUGH

There are two types of horror movies: trash-slash and psychological.

„Sleep tight” is one of the latter, being just as realistic to make you really scary and disgusted by the story of a janitor (Cezar) that sedates and sleeps with the attractive young woman (Carla) that moves in into building he tends to. A lot of that reality goes to the terrifying performance by Luis Tesar who will continue to play with your mind resiliently to the very end of this Spanish flick.

„Sleep tight” is a classic horror movie that will scary you enough to think about it after it finishes.

MIENTRAS DUERMES - 7/10

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