Post Mortem

I watch a lot of horror movies, and it's rare that I see one with anything new to offer. This is an exception. Its cinematography alone is worth the viewing. The story builds slowly to an amazing crescendo. Without adding spoilers, it's difficult to describe. But know that the film's tempo draws the viewer deep into this stark post-World War I village nearly devoid of life. The living characters occupy a liminal space between their marginal lives and the land of the dead. The ghosts, and there are many of them, are complex and unpredictable. This is perhaps the best ghost story I have seen this decade. I recommend it highly.

Let's get straight to the point: the plot doesn't really make much sense and there are some hinted subplots that never get really explained or explored. But!!! It's incredibly atmospheric and the setting (WWI rural Hungary) is original and refreshing. I definitely suggest horror lovers to give it a chance because it's not your average "Saturday horror movie".

It's WWI. Tomás barely survives the trenches and almost left for dead in a mass grave. He ends up photographing the dead posed with the living in family portraits. A little orphan named Anna recruits him to visit her village. He had seen her in a vision. There are many dead haunting the place.

I like the use of some physical effects. I find them adorable. It has an endearing indie charm. As a horror, it's not scary. It's like an old fashion ghost story. I like the photography premise although it could use some more poetry. The back story needs some work. This is a good simple old style horror.

I really, REALLY wanted to like this movie. It had my kind of description, my kind of look and feel, and ... my kind of story. Several of the actors are competent, (not many, but several), and, on THIS budget (which appears to be about 59¢), the director did a "passable" job. Now, don't get me wrong ... I really love when a director has to make a shoestring budget work (i.e. George Romero).

Not to give anything away, but, when lead character Tomás is rescued from death in war and becomes a photographer of the dead for poor families in the early 1900's Europe ... I got excited! THAT plot line had a lot of possibilities. Tomás goes to a small, war torn village to photograph family members with their dead, in really kind of "macabre" family portraits, and the hijinks ensue.

Look for little Anna, Tomás's village "helper", who also does a credible acting job.

Not bad horror mystery movie though I did not understand the end at all. First time watching a hungarian movie. The special effects are very good. However the actors were a bit lethargic.