Review of Katalin Varga (2009) by David B — 13 Apr 2010
Terrific thriller from British director Peter Strickland, shot in the Hungarian-speaking part of Romania over a number of years using money left to him by his uncle. At first sight this is a straightforward revenge movie; a woman's husband discovers that he is not father to their son.
He forces her to leave, and she tracks down the men who raped her 11 years earlier. However, the beautiful imagery, the sinister soundtrack that hints at the supernatural, and a powerful performance from Hilda Peter in the title role combine to create something special.
The scene in which Varga describes her rape to a couple is horrifying, and is more effective than the often prurient voyeurism of other films in the genre. This is a striking achievement, especially when taking into consideration the miniscule budget.
This review of Katalin Varga (2009) was written by David B on 13 Apr 2010.
Katalin Varga has generally received positive reviews.
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