Violett (2023)
A sick mother fears unspeakable evil will soon snatch her 11 year old daughter. When bizarre characters from the neighbourhood emerge, she discovers more than one shocking truth.
Fan Review: I’ve noticed a few key things about this film that warrant discussion. Firstly, labeling it as horror sets crucial expectations. The genre inherently allows for more experimental approaches and grants filmmakers greater creative freedom in achieving their desired impact. Secondly, writer/director Steven J. Mihaljevich is known for his unconventional style. Forget straightforward narratives; his films embrace abrupt jump cuts, sparse and unsettling dialogue, and fleeting, impactful visuals, constructing a story more akin to a puzzle for the audience to solve. Thirdly, there’s a striking disconnect between the overwhelmingly positive, detailed reviews here – many perfect scores – and the film’s overall ratings from casual viewers. Finally, and perhaps most interestingly, having penned over 2000 reviews myself, I find these glowing critiques to be exceptionally well-crafted… almost suspiciously so. While segments of the film are undeniably visually arresting, the overall experience leans more towards academic study – a demonstration of pushing cinematic boundaries – than genuine entertainment. Film students interested in the limits of the medium will find it fascinating.