Psychological thrillers are my kind of movies, especially those set in picturesque environments. But when there’s no action, drama, or a proper plot sequence, just an opaque storyline, it bores me stiff while messing with my brain.
Synopsis
A determined young woman and a bitter old soldier are trapped in a cycle of abuse and violence in an isolated cabin where causality and identity are fractured. Who will win? And what does winning look like?
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Anyone into thrillers would trip for an intro as fascinating as this - compelling, action-filled, and full of suspense. With that in mind, I quickly hit the play button… only to end up disappointed.
I honestly can’t tell if the “determined woman” was in the house with us or if I needed a flashlight to find her, like she was some missing piece of a puzzle. The woman they claimed to be “determined” was an absolute puppet. I don’t know if the so-called old soldier used black magic on her, but her behavior after her reluctant arrival at his cabin resembled that of a bot, a slow bot. You know those bots in movies programmed to be partners? Exactly!
The movie starts off with a woman, naked, with bloodied body, dipping herself in a river. It then shifts to a different timeline where she’s seen hiking through the woods. She meets a man, they talk briefly, and she goes on her way in search of a particular cabin. Next thing we know, he has her in his cabin, she’s barely conscious, and from that point on, it’s a struggle to understand what the hell is going on between them.
My Review and Rating
This movie and The Girl on the Train are two psychological slow-burns that made me feel like I was incapable of comprehension. There’s no clear storyline, just flickers of boring characters and scenes that hold no weight. It’s a slow burn, yes, but I’ve seen slow burns with enough drama to keep the audience glued.
I kept watching, hoping for a perfect explanation of what was going on with the characters. And I’ve never been more disappointed for trusting a movie. Well, I have - but still.
The only thing to appreciate in this film is its picturesque setting and eerie background score. That would have been useful if there had been more to the film than sheer foolishness and delusion. It’s also minimalistic, with very little dialogue, and I’m fairly certain it’s one of those low-budget films.
The cinematography is sharp, but whoever wrote the script deserves to have their bank account wiped clean.
Rating? I have none for it. I’d feel cheated if I came up with a number.
That said, if you’ve seen this movie and actually enjoyed or understood it, I’d love to get a brief overview - just in case I’m the slow one here.
For now, it’s a total waste of time, in my honest opinion.