This movie is dull, with events unfolding at the pace of continental drift. It is a character driven focus on alienation in a foreign country, where barriers of language and custom slowly overwhelm the protagonist. This is well illustrated, through long swatches of Romanian spoken without subtitles, and sequences of the character simply trying to get her bearings at otherwise mundane locations like supermarkets and local vendors. There might be a vampire serial killer lurking about somewhere, but that’d be a welcome reprieve from mononony and slow spiral into depression. The actress is capable, and certainly exhibits nuance and restraint in her performance, but often feels disaffected and morose. She drinks, she tries to make friends, she tries to learn the streets, she’s uncomfortable at gatherings, and she stares morosely out the window at the shadow of a man who seems to be staring intently at her. The first-time direction is excellent, and is admirable at excellently portraying the character’s feelings and situation, but that makes it almost harder to endure. It's gorgeously shot, and should serve as good tourist advertisement for the beautiful locations, but the script never warrants the patience required. There are hints of horrific events and dark conspiracy happening down alleys and around the corner, but barely any makes its way into the movie itself. Instead the real horrors are gaslighting and indifference and toxicity in relationships. The reveal and twist, don’t serve as either, rather banal revelation most everyone in the film makes poor life choices.
Watcher (2022)