X.

The X - The eXploited is a perfect mirror of post-communist Hungary, and we can say all post-communist countries. We are before the government election, unsatisfied people fight on the streets and corruption penetrates almost everything. Even at school, where the main characters, police officer Éva's daughter gets into trouble and her teacher asks Éva whether she could help with speeding fines.

Éva lost her police officer partner husband the same day she gave birth to their daughter. Ever since she is stuck in a dark space with fear and panic attacks - this paralyzing fear and darkness perfectly permeates the whole movie. Only her memories about her beloved husband turn colorful in front of the viewer's eyes. As a new colleague arrives Éva gets the chance to sort of come out of her shell and start to investigate in a difficult series murder case.

Matthias Schoenaerts once said in an interview that he loves the roles in which the character gets from zero only to one on a scale of ten, because that's how we are built, we progress slowly, but this little progression can be very interesting. This is how Éva's character is built and this makes the film even more realistic and maintains the curiosity of the viewer.

The crime story is perfectly built up, any other word would be spoiler, and the end is devilish, or just simply painfully realistic. In a scene Éva's daughter holds a paper banner with the text: What is the point of living when the truth is dead? The film beautifully revolves around this topic multilaterally, and the viewer doesn't get an easy answer.

Congratulations to co-writer and director Károly Ujj Mészáros, who's previous film, Liza, the fox fairy was a hit, but it's message was already chewed and spitted out in the most understandable way, now he created a story for professional cinema spectators who are willing to work mentally and emotionally to understand the message. And congratulations also to cinematographer Martin Szecsanov who visually created the rather hopeless world dreamed up by the director and writer in which the story takes place.

This is one more serial killer case but with a political and social element where it is evoked the Hungarian modern situation, around racism and political issues. You have the classic scheme of the investigator, here a woman, widow and mother of a disturbed teenage girl, a female police officer in total distress. Well, I don't crave for serial killer schemes, unless you already know who the killer is, and when you watch the police slowly but surely gets nearer and nearer, thanks to the clues and investigation details...That's for me the true suspense, as on a GPS map, you watch two bright points getting closer and closer. But when you don't know who the killer is, well, that's rather boring for me. Good directing and splendid camera work, Great aesthetic.

This is the best Hungarian thriller I've seen so far. The acting is overall great, especially the lead actor, who brilliantly portrays a single mother working against a corrupt system. The gastlighting in the movie is so apparent, even those who aren't well-versed in gender studies can see it. Also, the cinematography is on point showing how the world turned upside down. This movie is a dystopia, but it contains social critism as well.

Chose this randomly on Prime and was really taken aback by how good it was. On one level its a police procedural that is interesting and different as it is set in Budapest. But on another level it's a fantastic social drama with vivid but believable characters.

The lead actress is phenomenal but all of the supports are good too. I won't say anything more as I don't want to give even a hint of a spoiler, except to say that he camerawork is outstanding: you cannot take your eyes off of the screen.

Gripping police thriller set in Budapest with a lot of upside shots, so don't watch if your heads spinning after a night out. Moni Balsai plays Eva, a detective who can no longer appear at crime scenes after her police husband commits suicide. It's a proper thriller which ultimately leads to widespread cover ups, which end up to her daughter being threatened by the bad guys. Balsai is excellent as the detective as is Zsofi Bujaki as her daughter, Thrilling film.