A to Z Horror: Amulet (2020)
Next on our watchlist for A to Z Horror is the UAE and UK film Amulet (2020) written and directed by Romola Garai. To be honest, this film was quite the slog to get through. Now, thats not to say it was a bad film, but it took me three tries on dvd and 4th on streaming to get through it. It is VERY atmospheric and thats what I really liked about the film. Striking colors, weird noises, and interesting textures. The film does a really good job at the isolation and distress of the main characters mental health. So a short post on this sleepy sleeper.
There are two stories going on parallel involving the main character, a soldier named Tomaz, and both involve women and being taken care of. I kept getting the two stories mixed up as I had a hard time not fiddling around on the internet while watching. Its not hard once you actually stop and watch the movie as in the present he has a beard, and in the past he’s clean shaven. I do like the way the director seems to present it as a dream like presentation of his history.
Again, its very well done, but it just does not captivate and control the viewer as much as I want it to. It tries to pull a mystery aspect where you aren’t supposed to know what is going on yet, and I think that may have to do with why I’m not interested as I want to be. I want to know what the border is for. Why is his letting this woman, a refugee, into his spot so bad? What is the conflict?
The present pov gives us our horror story. We see a lot of horror techniques being used. We also have what seems to be a haunted house/Jacobs Ladder (1990) thing going on with the soldier.
The audience for this film is definitely out there, but it wasn’t me…
…until it gets 30 minutes in and we start to get some answers, and holy shit are they some weird fucking answers. The movie takes a left turn into monster movie territory. Give this one a shot. You’ll probably disagree with me about my rating, because most of the issues were my neurodivergence taking over and diverting my attention. But the 3rd act is crazy and reminds me of that movie Men (2022).
⭐️
Check it out from the Cabell County Public Library.
https://cabellcounty.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/test
*THIS POST AND THE A to Z Horror REVIEWS ARE NOT PROVIDED, ENDORSED, or SPONSORED by Cabell County Public Library*
We at Quill and Leaf urge you yo visit your local library and see what they Horror they have to offer A to Z.