Review of Michael (2011) by Duff H — 29 Apr 2013

In all understanding, a film that focuses on a pedophile keeping a child captive in his basement is certainly seeming to be asking for controversy (like Happiness before it, Michael is having an extremely limited release).

This Austrian film does handle the material in a tasteful manner with little onscreen sexual abuse seen, but it's refusal to answer it's dark questions is maddening. Director/writer Markus Schleinzer had worked with Michael Haneke before, and that auteur's influence is readily apparent.

The film has a similar vibe to his films, and uses many close up shots to help maintain the film's perpetual sense of claustrophobia. The script almost matches the directing too, even if it's climax may act as a bitter surprise.

Overall, Michael is an efficiently made and disturbing film, but also one that isn't particularly easy to swallow.