El viento

Ok, that first review is a bit much to read and a bit over thought ... Don't let it detour you from giving this movie a chance if you like the slow burn psychological thriller type of movies (fast paced gore fans will probably find it dull). Its very well done in my opinion. Good acting, nice steady pace that keeps the suspense going. Along with a really good score, or lack of at times enhancing how completely isolated and alone she is. The few special effects it does have are done well and not cheesy. Definitely worth taking a chance on. I love the fast gore fest stuff as well if done right but this is definitely not that.

There are only a handful of actors and the main character is alone a lot of the time. You do need to make sure you can actually sit and watch it without doing other things as well because there are a lot of flashbacks and back and forth from past to present. So try and wait until you can actually kick back and let yourself get sucked into the story. The pieces fit together. Anyone that likes suspenseful, mysterious, slow burn phycological thrillers that make you think will love is. It is a very well done thought out story, the characters are likeable and you end up caring about what happens to them.

I am not saying anything about what actually happens story wise as I do not like posting spoilers if I can help it. Knowing too much can take away from the suspense of these kinds of movies. Its better to go in blind. So I am leaving it at that.

"The Wind" follows a young woman and her husband who attempt to make a settlement in New Mexico in the late 19th century. They are the only people on the plain until another young couple arrives and moves into an adjacent derelict cabin. Both women share a common experience: There seems to be something living in the surrounding land that is trying to destroy them.

First off, I am a major fan of Western horror films, and frankly believe there are not enough of them--this period in U.S. history is ripe for horror movies, but it doesn't seem to be mined nearly as much as it could--so from that alone, I was thrilled at the concept of this film.

Director Emma Tammi really nails it here in terms of mood and atmosphere; the film is impeccably dressed, beautifully shot, and evokes a consistent dread that seems to close in on the protagonist. The narrative is told in a fragmented, non chronological manner, which might frustrate some, but it allows for a few clever juxtapositions and plot developments that wouldn't be possible otherwise, so it serves a purpose. Caitlin Gerard delivers a great performance here as pioneer woman Lizzy, the tormented lead. Hers eclipses the other performances from the small cast, and Julia Goldani Telles, though decent, seems miscast here. There are a few minor inconsistencies here in terms of the characters' appearances, as they all look far too primped and pressed for pioneers living in brutal conditions--but that aside, the period is well-represented.

The final act is where the film's screenplay starts to show its cracks. The explanation behind the events, albeit ultimately vague, is not entirely satisfying--it feels in some ways arbitrary, and the mythos is not fleshed out enough for the audience to ultimately care; it feels like a tacked-on afterthought that has little to support it. Despite this, though, I still found the film entertaining and at times thrilling. As far as Western horrors go, "The Wind" is a fine (albeit flawed) entry. 6/10.

This film may not be for every horror fan because it is slow paced and flashback oriented, which creates some confusion and boredom. However, the actors were convincing and the cinematography exuded a feeling of true desolation. Several of the scenes were nicely crafted without relying on overt gore or jump scares to frighten the audience.

I thought it was clever to blend an american western period piece with a demonic, neurotic tone.

I think this movie is definately worth a watch and is one of the more original horror films as of late.

The wind is a fresh breath of ol'wild west, and the conquering of the blessed land over the ocean, and the fertile grounds to build on and harvest from, just if it hadnt been for ''the wind. its a smallcast horrordrama, the story couldve been better and more fulfilled in its narrative, but the acting are good, no major flaws found, and the lovations and settings are mwellpicked and well created.

the big dilemmais to me : is it a horror film or is it just a drama of desillusioned womanhood, due to far too much loneliness on the prairie, with vast distances to the nearest neighbour, that might be even more insane, and the burden of having a husband that wont see or listen to whats tormenting this womens mind must have been a gruelling terror spiced up with religous faith and its opposite, the devil, as were a usual cause for womens insanity in a mans mind,''shes been dancing with the devil, and riding to bloksberg on her broomstick, to enjoy satyrical orgies with satan in hell''- kinda explonation that especially reverends made up mat that time.

so whatever its is, its a good film, a bit slow and dark visuals, but the grumpy old man found this more than recommendable

The trailer already made me feel like I'm gonna like this - and I did. I love and respect folk horror movies & I think this has all the qualities to belong to that subgenre, even though it's a western.

"The Wind" possesses many qualities - a strong lead performance, decent, on-point-bleak cinematography and crafty editing, an ambiguous (I enjoy ambiguous horror movies) and twisty plot, very fitting original score & eerie, isolated atmosphere. Those were the reasons Why I liked it, so what were the flaws? Honestly, I can't quite pin them down, put it in words. It might the be fact that, ultimately, it offers nothing new or that the chills weren't ... chilly enough. Like, for example, "The Witch", which I find similar in some ways, is a more effective movie. At least for me. Whatever the flaws are, nothing stuck out to me, it's just that objectively this is neither a masterpiece or the best horror movie of the year.

If You like modern folk horror movies, bleak, atmospheric movies or ambiguous plots, be sure to give this a watch - it deserves more attention. I'm interested to see what's next from this director. My rating: 7/10.