- Sensibility: This is one of the few horror films that is almost more reasonable on re-watch. Some of the demonic activities and the character interactions are hard to make sense of
on first watch, but on re-watch almost everything is surprisingly sensible.
- Cinematography: Production design is excellent and critical to the film. Sound design is pristine and interesting. Framing is excellent, giving so much to look at while giving every shot an intense feeling. There
are so many shots that stick in the mind, and a great incorporation of nature into the film-making. However, the beauty of the natural and practical effects stands in stark contrast to some of the cgi.
- Energy: The film is gripping, relentless, and haunting. The film's mysticism makes every nuance and detail feel important, making it hard to look away.
- Narrative: A haunted house story unlike any other. The film has great mystical and spiritual elements, but there's a historical connection that feels a bit over-explained.
- T-Points: The film received five bonus points: one for a great dissolve of a running river while she's in the bathtub, one for a horrifying multi-faced creature, one for the mysticism of her dreams, one for a great upside down end sequence, and one for an incredible
performance from Tatiana Maslany.
This is one of the few horror films that I think is almost a completely new experience on re-watch. Both watches gave me a great film: the first a brutal, relentless horror film and the second a deeply mystical,
thought-provoking, and spiritual film. This film is a shining example of why the large-review platforms often get it wrong. It's a shame so many people won't get to appreciate this film because
the popular rating sites have done it a disservice.
Number of Watches: 2
