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A Danish/English horror movie that delves into several fears: an overbearing partner's parent, a potential dark history of the partner, and evil spirits known as dybbuks. Although the writer and director, Gabriel Bier Gisalson, brings emotional depth to the story in his directorial debut, the film doesn't quite deliver and becomes drawn out by the end.

The relationship between Danish actress Maja (Josephine Park) and London academic Leah (Ellie Kendrick) starts out strong, with charming chemistry between the two women. However, things take a turn when Leah has a seizure and her pushy mother, Chana (Sofie Gråbøl), becomes involved in their relationship. Chana's strange behavior and interest in Jewish iconography creates a sense of unease that slowly builds as the story progresses.

The film attempts to set its horror within Jewish mythology and Ultra-Orthodox life, but this creates an exposition overload that distances the viewer. The strongest aspect of the film is its rumination on the universal worries of a relationship, particularly the fear of a partner changing who they are and leaving heartbreak. The acting, particularly by Sofie Gråbøl, adds to the disturbing dynamic of the story. Although "Attachment" has its moments, it becomes slow and too drawn out to be a fully successful horror movie.

Attachment is a Queer horror film steeped in Jewish folklore written and directed by Gabriel Bier GislasonIt in his feature-length film debut. At the center of the film's narrative is a love-at-first-sight romance between a Danish former actress and a Jewish academic from London. It boasts a rather endearing meet-cute between its leads in a public library when the two quite literally bump into each other dropping their books. The two strike up a whirlwind courtship, but unbeknownst to them, something sinister lurks beneath the surface. The film stars Josephine Park, Ellie Kendrick, Sofie Gråbøl, and David Dencik.

When Leah (Kendrick) suffers a terrifying and mysterious seizure, breaking her leg with a horrifying snap, Maja (Park) fears their relationship may end before it truly begins. She decides to accompany Leah back to her home-a multi-story flat in London she shares with her Mother-in the Hasidic neighborhood of Stamford Hill. There, she meets Leah's mother, Chana (Gråbøl), an unpleasant, domineering, and secretive woman. Chana resists Maja's attempts to bond with and get to know her. When Maja begins to notice strange seemingly supernatural occurrences in the apartments, she begins to suspect that Chana is conjuring something to keep Leah's love and devotion for herself. The superstitions and traditions of Orthodox Judaism play a role in the film's narrative, bringing authenticity to its setting and keeping us intrigued for the most part in its quiet moments.

Kendrick and Park deliver engaging and believable performances as a couple experiencing the familiar "meet-the-parents" friction, but the leads lack chemistry, making the romance itself unconvincing. While I love folk horror as much as the next person, the supernatural elements of the film are so subtle, that they are easily overlooked until the film's finale. The ending ties everything into a proverbial and somewhat clichéd bow that'll leave some viewers dissatisfied. It is a very slow burn that suffers ever so slightly from its pacing but it still manages to deliver an unexpected payoff.

While it isn't overtly scary and it takes a while for the story to get going, there's a great red herring and plenty of little supernatural chills. In addition to Jewish folklore stories that I have a keen interest in (naming them would give too much away), Attachment explores the deep bonds of love, superstition, and the complex nature of mother-daughter relationships. It's an allegory for codependence and the dangers of imbalanced relationships.

Certainly a must watch film for fans of the genre. The casting, cinematography, acting, scores and writing are all very good. There were only a couple things which held it back from being a true great.

The first is that despite that it's a horror movie with an 18+ rating it isn't very scary at all. There are some good creepy elements here and there and the mood gets rather spooky from time to time but it never comes close to a full follow through and give you any dread or fear that you might come to expect with these types of films. Instead it's replaced with an element of mystery which does do a pretty good job of keeping you interested but very far away from being horrified.

The next thing I took issue with is despite the frequency of sex scenes, you never see any 18+ nudity - now I'm not saying that from the viewpoint of one who seeks out films filled with cheap pornographic material from plastic actresses. The camera work, lighting and makeup takes a very cinematic approach - the actresses are made to look like real people you could encounter in the street - they have laugh lines and blemishes, their makeup isn't always done and their hair doesn't always look perfect but yet they are quite attractive none the less. It all comes together to create a sense of realism that's quite submersible and effective. But watching numerous sex scenes unfold without seeing a bare behind or even a bare breast make an appearance but instead two people making love and staying unnaturally fully covered I found created contrast to the otherwise realistic and raw tone the rest of the film seemed to adhere to. In short it just seemed out of place and offbeat and gave the feeling of something being missing from the experience.

While the twist at the end was predictable and formulaic it didn't conclude the film in the exact way that I was expecting so i'll award half points for its conclusion. All in all I would certainly recommend that genre fans give it a watch - while it's not very scary it also doesn't rely on cheap jump scares and instead gives an honest effort towards creating a good atmospheric mystery with some horror elements and it's certainly worth your time.

This film was an incredibly enjoyable and engaging watch, and really fun to see in the cinema. A beautiful example of claustrophobic family horror, it manages to balance tension and emotional stakes while still being funny and charming. Every member of the small cast gives a really phenomenal performance.

This was a quarantine film that was shot quickly, and it shows a little in some clumsy exposition but that is easily my only criticism. All told, it is incredibly sharp, original and multifaceted, with a stunning cast and strong direction, a wonderful, complex queer storyline and a very fresh take on some old tropes. Absolutely delightful.

"Attachment" tells the story of two women whose relationship becomes entangled with the mysterious past of one woman's mother. The film explores the Kabbalah, a Jewish belief system, adding a unique dimension to the story.

The movie is a refreshing departure from traditional horror films that rely heavily on gore and special effects. Instead, "Attachment" builds tension through its clever storytelling and masterful cinematography. The result is a movie that is both touching and suspenseful.

The relationship between the two women is at the heart of the movie, and the performances by the actresses are top-notch. As the story unfolds, we are drawn into their world and become invested in their journey.

One of the most impressive aspects of "Attachment" is its use of Kabbalah. The film deftly weaves this mystical belief system into the story, adding a layer of depth that elevates it beyond typical horror fare.

Overall, "Attachment" is a well-crafted and thoughtful film that is definitely worth watching. It may not be a traditional horror movie, but it is certainly a memorable one. Highly recommended.