Director: Nico van den Brink
Year: 2022
Country: The Netherlands
Alternate Titles: N/A
Genre: Folk Horror
Plot:
After the discovery of an ancient bog woman, a woman and her daughter join a team of scientists helping to excavate the discovery from the area, but when they experience a series of strange encounters they discover that a strange curse affecting the area is responsible and must try to stop it.
Review:
This was a pretty disappointing genre effort. Among the few positive points here stem from the actual setup and lore of the community that provides a rather intriguing spin on the creature attacking them. The initial story we get involving the creature's backstory and significance to the area in the flashback that we hear both audibly as well as the recreation done as a child's performance piece set up the events of this one rather well. That everything here comes off as genuine due to the location of everything on the edge of a peat bog filled with ominous shadows and rolling fog through the night creates an intriguing atmospheric touch to this one.
This setup comes about by creating a rather fun sense of action at times when it really mattered. The initial incident long before anything is known about what's going on is a highly impressive sequence managing to set things in motion with a genuinely enjoyable sequence, while the scenes of the residents being confronted by the supernatural spirit living in the bog have some atmospheric touches as well. That leads into the great finale where everyone is suddenly attacked by loved ones and other residents of the area leading to some fine confrontations and brutal resolutions to the brawling that goes quite nicely with the chilling visuals of the curse coming to life and affecting others. These factors do manage to provide some likable features to the film.
There are some flaws to be had with this one. Among the biggest issues here is the rather stilted pacing featured here which comes about with the film taking way too long to get started. The early exploits of the family arriving out in the remote area, the issues with the locals who aren't thrilled about them digging in the area in light of the past events that took place there, and the different family issues that affect her cause this to take quite a while before the main threat of this one emerges. Far too little happens here with regards to what's stalking the family since we're focusing on these factors interrupting the main horror elements that it's possible to be quite bored and put off by what's going on.
The other issue here is one that's highlighted by this but also stands on its own with the rather disjointed and unfocused storyline. Some of it is due to the slow-burn gradual build of the plotline in place but this one also goes around to various subplots without getting much in the way of a genuine build-up to the point of the curse affecting the area. It doesn't even get spelled out until nearly an hour into the running time which makes it feel sedate and slow in the first half before rushing through a finale that makes tons of connections to half-hearted plot points in play. That becomes quite apparent with the finale featuring some rather unconvincing aspects that come off as clichéd due to the rather jumbled nature this goes about setting everything up. It's all enough to lower this one somewhat from what it could've been.
Overview: **.5/5
Somewhat enjoyable at times but disappointing overall, this was a somewhat disappointing genre effort that could’ve been much better than it is although there’s still enough to like here to make it watchable. Fans of the style or curious about the country’s output will be those that like it the most while others who aren’t into the style or turned off by what’s on display here might want to heed caution instead.
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