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Just weird as usual from you know who

Many moons ago I read the graphic novel this is based on (Sancastle by Pierre Oscar Lévy). You can certainly tell the author is french, what with one of the characters having in innate hatred of Arabs, plus all the underage nudity & implied sex.

I don't know how closely M is going to follow the narrative of the novel, not much judging by the trailer.

SPOILER:
There is no Big Bad chasing people in holes - the enemy here is accelerated time with no way to escape - probably a metaphor for holding onto your family & youth before it's too late. Looks interesting, but also similar to the Happening in the case of no visible threat - please be better than that.



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Writer`s Release

It is interesting! Despite it's terrible title!


Editor
MYREVIEWER.COM

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True title somewhat a bit off. When I saw
Title I thought it was about older folks,

This item was edited on Sunday, 30th May 2021, 01:59

Firstly, it's a chore to sit through, and painful to watch. not because of the content on screen, but due to the frankly baffling cinematography choices on display, that will have you gasping in exasperation the fifth time a particular camera movement makes itself evident.

The plot is simple. A family arrives at a lush paradise resort, where everything is laid on & every whim catered for. The host of the resort recommends a small private beach as a day trip, and our family is joined by a few others for the outing. It's soon evident that there are little hints that while the setting might be paradise, the familial units here assembled are little less so.

Watch the trailer, and you'll get the idea of what happens next. As the day progresses, the small children grow and age from scene to scene (Although a reason was found to keep Thomasin in a Bikini for the longest time - funny, that). Ailments are accelerated & amplified. Pregnancy is swift, painful, and... sorry, no spoilers.

Narratively, it's just so episodic & disjointed. One thing will happen - resolution. Another thing - move on. There's some foreshadowing with a couple of characters, particularly Rufus Sewell, but you have barely enough time to absorb one scene ending before having to deal with the possible implications of the next, which sometimes go nowhere or are so suddenly inconsequential you wonder why they were there in the first place.

Now, some are complaining about the 'twist'. Having read the source material I kind of welcomed it. The original ended with no explanation or resolution, but there was a hint that something more nefarious was going on. This retelling throws the audience a bone, and while it not might be entirely credible or plausible, it's an explanation, albeit not a wholly satisfying one.

It's not great. He's done better. It's passable, watch it once. Try not to throw something at the screen the 15th time a tracking dolly shot is used, or when the camera slowly rotates to stare at a cliff wall for no reason, for the 20th time. Honestly, it's like he's regressed to his art school phase, if he ever had one.

5/10.

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Writer`s Release