Pelican Blood

Scary films are rarely seen in contemporary German-speaking cinema. A film like PELIKANBLUT by Katrin GEBBE is a welcome change.

Wiebke (the two-time EUROPEAN FILM AWARD nominee Nina HOSS (2012 for BARBARA, 2020 for SCHWESTERLEIN)) lives with her adopted daughter Nicolina (Adelia GIOVANNI OCLEPPO) on her own riding stable. There she occasionally works with a mounted police unit, which also includes the likeable Benedict (Murathan MUSLU). When Wiebke adopts a second girl, little Raya (excellent: Katerina LIPOVSKA), the problems begin. Little Raya is increasingly becoming a threat to those around her...

Very mysterious and yet true to everyday life and realistic! This horror gem, which was created in a German-Bulgarian co-production, has it all. As usual, Nina HOSS plays outstandingly, the child actors are very convincing. And even the horses in the riding stable provide a contrast that heightens the horror. The director Katrin GEBBE, who has since directed several episodes of the NETFLIX series THE EMPRESS, was able to present her film at the Venice Film Festival in 2019 as the opening film of the side series ORIZZONTI.

Raw movie with impeccable acting. It touches upon a very sensitive topic and it does so in an engaging way. It might not be everyone's cup of tea but it is bloody relatable to some.

An absurd? An affirmation of irrationality in XXI century? This film desserves everything science proves. Propaganda of irrationality.

Not everything can be explained rationally. Even the love for an animal (horse in this case), may be something that some humans will not entirely get. And you can't really explain those things. It is also interesting to have certain things that are never being spoken out loud but which you can see the filmmakers paid a lot of attention too ... like how horses think ... well we get into that as much as it is possible. It is portrayed here as someone who might be a horse whisperer ... very interesting to see.

What is also interesting is the main performance by Nina Hoss ... what a powerhouse she is here! The kid that the movie revolving most around can be super annoying ... but that is what the girl is supposed to be ... so it is the role and not the kid itself. Especially during the times it cries it is not easy to keep focused or understanding ... you may get newfound respect for people who deal with kids like this on a daily basis.

But because this is a movie there is more to it than the eye meets ... for some too much ... and maybe too far out there. Yes the movie deals with things outside our logical world ... whether you believe in them or not, will be up to you to decide ... and if you don't this may annoy you ... but maybe you can still enjoy the movie and the thriller aspects of it ...