The powers of children turn an ordinary summer into a violent nightmare, in haunting supernatural horror.
Young Ida and her autistic sister Anna are the new kids in a council estate, bordering a forest on the outskirts of Oslo. The two soon make friends: Anna meets Aisha, who can read and verbalize Anna’s thoughts. Ida befriends Benjamin and soon they find out they both have special powers. With the parents largely absent, the children are free to develop and use their powers. That, however, is not without danger.
There is something inherently disturbing about violence and cruelty from children. In Eskil Vogt’s harrowing second feature, there is plenty of it.The build up is clever, as all events initially seem innocent. But once the audience is drawn into the world of the four children, the film takes a dark and violent turn. The director masterfully controls these lives gradually spiralling out of control, helped by impressive performances from his young cast.
Haunting and chilling, this superb thriller ultimately asks the question who the innocents really are.
Regie | Director Eskil Vogt
Noorwegen. Zweden, Denemarken, Finland, Frankrijk, VK | Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, France, UK 2021
117m
Met | With: Rakel Leonora Fløttum, Alva Brynsmo Ramstad, Sam Ashraf, Mina Yasmin Bremseth Asheim
