Review of We Are What We Are (2013) by Sandra A — 11 Dec 2013

There is plenty to love about directors Mickle's twist slow burn gothic horror-drama. Excellent performances, particularly from his young cast, a brilliant eye for beautiful, often arresting, visuals, and a crafty ability to play with the genre conventions to great effect. Particularly in his finale, which quickly falls into gorgeous arthouse horror. Be warned; Mickle's deceptive bait-and-switch will test the constitutions of many unsuspectingly decieved viewers with a decidedly stomach-churning finale.

Its a delicious mix of gloss and gross, but it lacks the serious grindhouse gore that horror fundamentalists love. So there is no doubt its going to split audiences.

Which isn't surprising either; much of this looks like a Terrance Malick film smashed into parts of both Stoker and Martha Marcy May Marlene; a heady mix of excellent individual parts coming together to form a delicious whole. Much like the title of the movie itself, We Are What We Are is happy to present itself as it is; take it or leave it!