Review of The Shrine (2010) by Andi W — 16 Jan 2016

I usually enjoy creepy movies that don't feel like they have to explain everything. It can add to the anxiety that a horror film should produce. I mean, I was confused by Eraser Head at different points in the film, but walked away feeling the unease that I am sure David Lynch had crafted for me.

The Shrine just left me confused and annoyed. It started out feeling like a Lifetime Movie Network production, and then devolved into a Polish film with no subtitles. I tried to watch it a second time, to see if I could pick up more of the plot, but couldn't get through it.

The statue in the fog was creepy and menacing. But then I just felt exasperated and, although the brutality of the ritual killings was pretty horrifying, I really didn't care anymore. I actually looked up reviews to see if anybody else got what was going on and could explain it to me.

I still have no idea. I guess it did a very good job of relaying what it would feel like to go to a Canadian mock-up of a 19th century Polish village and have nasty and inexplicable things done to you.

I'm crossing that off my bucket list as soon as I post this review.