Rating: R
Movie Release Date: October 24, 2008
DVD Release Date: March 10, 2009
Plot 411: Oskar, a lonely boy who is bullied at school, meets falls in love with an intriguing girl who moves in next door.
Review: I kept hearing about this movie in a podcast I listen to and came to the point where I just needed to know what the hype was all about. I watched it without reading the synopsis and have to tell you that it's an amazing film. Oskar (Kare Hedebrant) is a 12-year-old Swedish boy who is being bullied at school. He comes from a single-parent home and doesn't really have any friends. When new neighbors move in, he becomes intrigued with an odd girl named Eli (Lina Leandersson). Oskar and Eli become friends, often meeting at the jungle gym in their courtyard. When Oskar confides in Eli about the bully situation, she advises him to fight back. She gives him confidence and he gives her a companion. After Eli's arrival into town several suspicious deaths occur, and Oskar soon learns that she isn't your ordinary girl. Without giving too much of the plot away, this movie is truly unique in its approach to first love, coming of age and the horror genre. Cinematically, many of the scenes are beautiful because of the falling snow and white landscape. This is a dramtic contrast to many of the dark scenes. The movie addresses common themes like isolation, a broken family and trouble at school, but it does so from a fresh perspective. Hedebrant and Leandersson are really talented young actors who portray a lot of emotion on film. You empathize with both characters and experience the same rollercoaster ride that Oskar goes through. You feel each of his emotions - loneliness, happiness, curiosity, horror, fear, disgust and love. Despite being of the horror genre, I would consider this a coming-of-age love story between the two main characters. Like most love stories, there are many obstacles preventing them from happiness, but these hurdles are truly different from the norm. From the horror perspective, there is a good mix of practical and CG effects that somehow come across as very natural. The sound design is really interesting and different from what you'd normally expect.
Movie Release Date: October 24, 2008
DVD Release Date: March 10, 2009
Plot 411: Oskar, a lonely boy who is bullied at school, meets falls in love with an intriguing girl who moves in next door.
Review: I kept hearing about this movie in a podcast I listen to and came to the point where I just needed to know what the hype was all about. I watched it without reading the synopsis and have to tell you that it's an amazing film. Oskar (Kare Hedebrant) is a 12-year-old Swedish boy who is being bullied at school. He comes from a single-parent home and doesn't really have any friends. When new neighbors move in, he becomes intrigued with an odd girl named Eli (Lina Leandersson). Oskar and Eli become friends, often meeting at the jungle gym in their courtyard. When Oskar confides in Eli about the bully situation, she advises him to fight back. She gives him confidence and he gives her a companion. After Eli's arrival into town several suspicious deaths occur, and Oskar soon learns that she isn't your ordinary girl. Without giving too much of the plot away, this movie is truly unique in its approach to first love, coming of age and the horror genre. Cinematically, many of the scenes are beautiful because of the falling snow and white landscape. This is a dramtic contrast to many of the dark scenes. The movie addresses common themes like isolation, a broken family and trouble at school, but it does so from a fresh perspective. Hedebrant and Leandersson are really talented young actors who portray a lot of emotion on film. You empathize with both characters and experience the same rollercoaster ride that Oskar goes through. You feel each of his emotions - loneliness, happiness, curiosity, horror, fear, disgust and love. Despite being of the horror genre, I would consider this a coming-of-age love story between the two main characters. Like most love stories, there are many obstacles preventing them from happiness, but these hurdles are truly different from the norm. From the horror perspective, there is a good mix of practical and CG effects that somehow come across as very natural. The sound design is really interesting and different from what you'd normally expect.
Watch It: For a touching tale of love set within a horror film. It's really, really good.
Skip It: If you're looking for a true Hollywood slasher-type film. This one's a lot more intelligent.
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