Besökarna

I remember watching this movie once back in 1992, back then I thought it was amazing (somehow), upon seeing it again I realize that it has a bunch of elements that really stand out, and is worthy of attention.

Don't take me wrong, I'm pretty cynic when it comes to Swedish movies, the only one I've ever liked so far is "Mannen Pa Taket" and "Noll Tolerans", however this has nothing to do with any action paced scenarios, but more the realism in it, unlike the ungraspable Hollywood-movies.

It all starts out with a series of events in the families new house in a town outskirt, where everything for a start seems to be quite alright (with a couple of flaws of course), then for some reason they start to notice that something is happening to the house, the tapestries start to fall off in one of the rooms, in another nothing 'feels' right, and then it all gets creepier and creepier.

I can't say that this movie is very particular in comparison to the great, I just think that this is a missed out movie, may it not be the Swedish quintessence, but a good portion of essence (at least).

Simply an underwhelming, and clumsy Swedish haunted house film with your standard genre tropes directed without any lasting impression. Kinda low-scale, slow and particularly unevenful with frequently minor paranormal activity until the end. Think along the lines of "Amityville Horror". However there's a goofy charm (unintentional and intentional) to proceedings thanks to some questionabe, head scratching character actions/reactions, overcooked dialogues and eccentric side-characters (mailman, paranormal researcher).

Most of the storytelling is filled with family drama, growing tension and amplified squabbling (brought upon by the father's obsession over the house's strange occurances) with only a few scattered spooky atmospheric moments and a go-for-broke final 10 minutes with a climatic pyrotechnic pay-off. These well-done scenes mainly occurred during the quieter moments with a focus on vivid sound design and shadowy photography. It's just too bad whenever the intrusive music score or hamfisted dialogue delivery entered the picture it was a mood destroyer. As for trying to understand what's going on - all we get is a passage read out from a book discovered in a locked up room in the attic. It's a vague exposition dump, which doesn't share much light on the backstory of the family's new home and what awaits them if they don't leave.

Also the visual quality of the print I watched was beyond blotchy and the english dub was bad, yet amusinginly so when the characters curse their heads off... yep even the children. The family dinner table discussion regarding peakcocks will get you attention.

I am really pleasantly surprised! This Swedish movie is really simple and plain haunted house story with focus on few characters and their experience with horror. The best thing is simplicity and minimalism - everything happens in and outside house without any explanation why scary events happens which is great and original approach that simply put viewer in the same line with characters on screen. Also, actions of characters tend to be realistic as it possible - with all bad, stupid and good moves without silly heroic and/or cold approach to mysterious events in the house. Very different from other haunted house movies. Also, lack of gore and usage of light, shadows and sound instead over the top FX to produce horrific atmosphere is fantastic approach and works amazing! Even awfully bad English dubbing in the version I watched, occasionally lame acting and silly ending can't reduce real creepiness of scary scenes.

Very different view of pretty exploited theme with situations and actions that are the closest to reality if this would happen to some real family in the real world.

Highly recommended!

I basically think this is a great movie. It's rare for Swedish movies to be good, or even great, but this one is truly great. They've managed to keep the storyline on the track, good acting, OK special effects (not that many though) and good music. I suppose this was a medium budget compared to Swedish standards, but I think this is what you mean when you imply that great art can come out of something simple. It also involves one of the funnies movie moments I've ever seen, you'll recognize it if you see it. I highly recommend it and personally regard it as Swedish top five movies together with Fanny and Alexander, Änglagård and a few other movies. (That list is short though).

This movie is one of my favorites. It doesn't rely on special effects, it doesn't rely on big name actors, at least not by U.S. standards. It doesn't rely on great dubbing, in fact it is quite bad. So what does this movie offer... a scary plot, the movie is slow and cerebral, but very scary. Pacific Heights scary. The main character has to solve a mystery about the house that they just moved into. The movie offers up just enough to keep the guesswork, wallpaper that won't stick, mysterious figures in the windows, a quite entertaining film, which is what this is, a film, not a movie, excellent, I voted a ten...