Samara Weaving is becoming quite a modern horror icon, starring in this dialogue-free experimental film about survivors in a post-rapture world. An initial title card gives a brief explanation of the world and setting, most of the information delivered entirely through show not tell by necessity of the film's gimmick. Most of it works as a taut, survival horror film, with some very gory moments and some unsettling monster designs. Not everything works, and there are a lot of gaps in the narrative the viewer needs to fill in for themselves. There are some baffling elements, including why the filmmakers decided the viewers might need a flashback to something that literally happened minutes ago, and the nature of the demonic influences aren’t very well explained. The film raises far more questions than it answers, but the action and horror elements are well executed, and the filming and cinematography are excellent. The ending again leaves the viewers to decide for themselves what the coda will be, but for its brevity and uniqueness, this film is certainly worth a watch.
Azrael (2024)