One night, all the kids from the same class disappear – except for one, the local community demands answers and does not hesitate to point the blame.
Thrilling, horrific, and… funny? A review will never be able to cut it, but here’s, in a nutshell, what to expect from one of the most hyped films of the year. Writer/director Zach Cregger, following up on his success from Barbarian (2022): https://kaygazpro.com/barbarian-2022-horror-thriller/, comes back with a thriller that escalates to horror and dark comedy. This escalation includes multiple vantage points, offering various angles on the same story. It always takes a step forward with one character and then half a step back with another to show you the same sequence of events experienced from different perspectives. As Cregger stated, Magnolia (1999) is a significant influence in his work and the way the narrative unfolds, but as you’ll see, The Shining (1980), Night of the Living Dead (1968), Twin Peaks (1990), Irreversible (2002), It (1990), and more have further influenced his film.
Despite the intricate and non-chronological narrative form, the characters are equally important and interesting. While none of them deserve their fate, Cregger has ensured that no one is innocent. Addiction, guilt, manipulation, bureaucracy, and the loss of childhood innocence are themes that he explores through these characters and the small society they live in. As for the personified evil they have to face (and its deliberate projection), that is something that you will have to see for yourselves and decide if, how, and why it works for you. Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Alden Ehrenreich, Benedict Wong, Austin Abrams, and Amy Madigan are amazing in front of the camera, giving incredible justice to their characters.
This is a spoiler-free review, but I can tell you that Cregger brings his unique touch to the horror genre. In Barbarian, there were three films in one and here, as the story develops, he swaps three genres in three acts. Why? What does he achieve in this way? What is the influence on the audience? What is the aftertaste he wants you to have? It’s great to see that the horror genre will constantly be evolving and diverse. See the achievements of Danny and Michael Philippou in Australia.
Prepare to get shocked and prepare to awkwardly laugh about it.
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Solidarity for all the innocent lives that suffer the atrocities of war!
Stay safe!
