Director: K/XI
Year: 2022
Country: Pakistan/United Kingdom
Alternate Titles: N/A
Genre: Supernatural
Plot:
After a traumatic childhood incident, a young woman suffering from memory loss develops a sisterly bond with another orphaned girl in their new adopted family but plagued by intense nightmarish visions of the past she heads back to her home in a quest for answers eventually leading to a chilling realization.
Review:
There's quite a lot to like with the film. Among the stronger aspects of this one is the impressively layered build-up present that manages to evoke the mundane realities of life as a lead-in to the genre fare to come later on. By spending the first half with the two girls and their relationship together that shows them discussing their futures once they're adults, hanging out, or going through the trials and tribulations of growing up together, this creates a highly enjoyable and realistic relationship between them. These help to further the connection we have with her once the terror starts as the obvious concerns we have based on her age and condition are enhanced by virtue of a great starting point here.
With this fantastic setup firmly established, the influx of scares throughout here is handled incredibly well. From the opening incident that seems shocking and brutal in context but never through a clear-enough shot to determine what exactly happened, the tone that's set up here works quite well with the burgeoning supernatural attacks to come with the mysterious phone calls from her estranged mother and the strange physical maladies no one can solve. By the time this starts in on the nightmares and the striking visual aesthetic of these scenes starts in, the general effect seen here comes across in the physical and mental they take on her health-wise which signals the turn into the reserved notions of the final half.
This third half, focused on uncovering the truth about what's happening and how it all plays into her past, has some fun aspects but is the weakest part of the film. While their relationship is now focused on the bond being on the trip together, the genre elements here are somewhat lacking. Reliant on the idea that their religious ideas aren't working to rid her of the experiences and bringing up the need for the healer to help, it comes up slightly short in this regard since very little actually happens here despite the growing assurance that the demonic entity is wreaking havoc on her. The more spiritual exorcism path this uses to cleanse her isn't the type of hard-hitting action most might be expecting, and while the ending resolution still packs a punch, this might be a slight detriment for some.
Overview: ****/5
A more restrained and low-key supernatural genre effort than what most might be expecting, overall there's still enough to like here for those that are willing to give this one a chance. Viewers who do prefer this kind of style and approach will have a lot to like about it while viewers who only appreciate the more overt genre fare and qualities might not be that interested in this one.
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