Saturday, October 31, 2015

The Wall

Year: 2012
Genre: Fantasy drama
Director: Julian Polsler


Plot: A woman visiting the countryside suddenly finds herself trapped behind an invisible wall that covers the area surrounding her lodge. She attempts to carry on with her life disconnected from the outside world with only a dog, a cat and a cow for company.


The gist: Based on the novel by Marlen Haushofer, The Wall is similar to Robinson Crusoe in telling a story on solitude, in this case a woman trapped behind an invisible wall that inexplicably appears, and appears to be impenetrable.

The woman narrates her time spent surviving within the confines of the wall while tending to her animals who keep her company. It is only by keeping herself active that she saves herself from going insane.


The good: Cinematography of the countryside is well done. Lead star Martina Gedeck does a splendid job as the woman, who reacts to her surroundings the same way we would. Her drive to carry on and live despite her impossible situation is inspirational, if not always engaging.

The bad: This isn't exactly a story about unraveling a mystery, so the explanation behind the wall's existence is not given. The film also lacks a proper ending, with a sudden incident towards the end being both a little late and somewhat inconsistent.


Verdict: It's a picture with a slow pace that doesn't quite give a proper payoff. The potential is there but not utilised. Just a decent film overall. (6/10) 

A Hijacking

Year: 2012
Genre: Drama thriller
Director: Tobias Lindholm


Plot: A Danish ship is hijacked by Somali pirates, who proceed to negotiate for ransom money with the ship's owner back in Copenhagen.


The gist: On the surface this looks similar to Tom Hanks' Captain Phillips but it clearly isn't. Unlike that film, this is a slow burn drama with tense moments.

A Hijacking focuses on two men: Mikkel, the cook on board the Danish vessel Rosen, who is desperate to get home to his family, and Peter, the CEO of the company that owns the Rosen, who takes it upon himself to negotiate for his crew's release despite objections from a professional in pirate negotiations.

While Captain Phillips is a swiftly paced thriller, A Hijacking is the opposite. We watch the situation play out for a duration of four months as Mikkel tries his best to survive in between tense and friendly moments with the pirates, and Peter attempts to negotiate with the pirates amidst pressure from the crew's families and the company board.


The good: Pilou Asbaek gives a great performance as Mikkel, the everyman cook who simply wants his ordeal to be over and go home. Soren Malling is solid as well in the role of Peter, who seems like a cold professional at the beginning but starts to crack as negotiations start to break down.

The bad: The pace can be languid at times. The moment the pirates boarded the ship was not shown, which I found to be rather odd.


Verdict: A Hijacking is a fine thriller with several tense moments, showing that negotiations are most difficult when it involves human lives. (7/10)

Sunday, October 25, 2015

The Sacrament

Year: 2013
Genre: Horror thriller
Director: Ti West


Plot: A documentary crew travel to a remote community called Eden Parish for a story, only to discover that the so-called paradise isn't as it seems.


The gist: Eli Roth produces this found footage picture shot in documentary style by Ti West, following a crew from VICE who travel to a remote community with a man looking for his sister who happens to be living there. It's only accessible by helicopter and guarded by armed men.

Once there, the crew meet the man's sister who warmly welcomes them, and subsequently introduces them to Father, the leader of the community. Interviews with Father and several members of the community seem convincingly positive, though the feel that something sinister is lurking exists. Then a sudden call for help throws things out of order and the crew find themselves in danger.

This story is heavily influenced by the Jonestown massacre in 1978, and while I am not well informed on the subject, I can say that this film for the most part, works well as a thriller, even though it takes a while for it to get going. Once the shit hits the fan, the tension and suspense is quite palpable.


The good: Performances from the cast are generally good, but special credit goes to Gene Jones who makes Father seem kind and disarming at the same time. The camerawork is also surprisingly good considering that this is found footage stuff.


The bad: The editing exposes a few lapses of logic here and there, and the camera angles seem too perfect in moments when the guy holding it clearly isn't shooting.


Verdict: The Sacrament is a good alternative in found footage horror, as in it doesn't rely on the usual tricks made famous by The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity. Worth a look at. (7/10)