I knew next to nothing about the movie before my viewing and that’s the way I like to roll. I knew this was some form of post-apocalyptic zombie survival flick and that was exactly what I was in the mood for. What I ended up watching was something far more than your run-of-the-mill doomsday diary; this would have made Shyamalan cream his pants.
The movie is directed by Matt and Ross Duffer as “The Duffer Brothers” and stars Alexander SkarsgÃ¥rd (of True Blood fame) and Andrea Riseborough (Birdman and Oblivion), as well as the young Emily Alyn Lind. All gave top-notch performances and added a level of verisimilitude to the story. SkarsgÃ¥rd for me was particularly strong in his role as the loving husband and beloved father. He managed to show panic, fear, love, and devotion in near every scene; a testament to the depth he put into his character.
A family takes refuge in a fallout shelter to avoid a dangerous outbreak.”
A simple yet very vague synopsis, especially since you can usually watch an entire movie in a two minute trailer these days. Movies shot with such a small cast in mostly one location need to have something to keep the viewers entertained and emotionally invested, and this film manages to do just that. The tension from the movie comes from the obvious fear the family has for whatever it is that is stalking the land above them. There are occasional flashbacks that slowly help you piece together the story that seem a little out of place until the film’s capricious ending.
I do need to point out though that this is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea. The film has very little action until the last few scenes and most of the horror is psychological in nature. There are some very tense and creepy moments, but if you are looking for a fast paced gore-fest then you’d best give this one a skip. If you are looking for tension and despair with a dash of creepy and a pinch of monster, then this one comes highly recommended.
Check out the trailer below.
