Kolory zla. Czerwien

STAR RATING: ***** Brilliant **** Very Good *** Okay ** Poor * Awful

The body of Monica Begucka (Zofia Jastrzebska) washes up on the sea, in mysterious circumstances similar to a case from fifteen years ago. Her mother, and former police chief, Helena (Maja Ostaszewska) joins forces with prosecutor Leopold Bilski (Jakub Gierszel) to track down the killer, and suspicion falls on feared local gangster Kazar (Prezemyslaw Bluszcz), when a ball of severed lips is found in his possession, but as events draw on, things are not as clear as they seem.

Foreign cinema has an unnerving ability to deliver thrillers in a cold, dark, grey style, of the sort that we see increasingly less of on this side of the pond. This Bulgarian effort, from director Adrian Panek, features a slew of actors unheard of on these shores, with names so unpronounceable they make Schwarzenegger sound positively easy. What at first seems a slightly cold and uninviting affair, gradually develops into an intriguing and rewarding thriller that keeps you hooked till the end.

Aside from the moodiness and uninviting greys of the lighting, Panek's film is also unafraid to shy away from some brutal, blood letting violence, liable to illicit a flinch or two from the squeamish. While as a film it unflinchingly delves into the grimy and uncomfortable world it inhabits, it's also carefully wrought, with some clever twists and turns along the way, and unexpected plot developments that allow the story to breathe and hold you in.

It's a bit of a slow starter, with maybe not the most dynamic opening, but it's ultimately a highly rewarding effort, even if it does take a lot out of you to get to the end. ****

I generally associate Netflix movies with safe, forgettable nonsense that isn't worth anyone's time. Just every so often though they release something out of left field that is dark and grimy and highly watchable. 'Colors of Evil: Red' is exactly one of those films.

From a very early point it was clear that this film wasn't afraid to go to some very dark places. From there we meet each of the characters, and this is where the film is at its strongest. All the characters are extremely well defined. If you are supposed to be rooting for someone, then you will be. If someone is meant to be an antagonist, then they are portrayed as pure evil. The divide is clear and pronounced.

This is just my kind of movie. A murder mystery/thriller with great pacing (there aren't any down periods in the film) and a dark, twisting plot. More of this please Netflix. 9/10.

I usually don't have high expectations on Netflix movies but every now & then there's one that I really enjoy watching and this is one of them! Now this is also a bit of a graphic movie with a bunch of uncomfortable scenes that you barely see in movies these days and I think that's what was important to set the tone very well and keep you wanting to know the truth.

It's hard to watch cuz some scenes are heavy especially mentally but it's also a realistic portrait of these kinds of crimes. The acting especially from the mother was really good!

I'd definitely recommend this movie to people that love crime thrillers. I also love the fact that it's a polish movie. I've been enjoying more foreign movies lately.

Netflix presents the movie 'The Colors of Evil: Red'. Do not confuse it with the 'Three Colors' trilogy by the master Krzysztof Kieslowski. 'Red' is based on the first of the three novels 'Colors of Evil', which are: Red, Black, and White, by the writer Malgorzata Oliwia Sobczak. It is written and directed by Adrian Panek, who previously made 'Wake Up' for Netflix, as well as 'Hounds' outside the catalog. He also co-writes with Lukasz M. Maciejewski, well-known on the platform for 'The King of Warsaw', 'Mother's Day', and 'The Master of Escapes', which brings us our protagonist, Jakub Gierszal. Alongside him is Zofia Jastrzebska, whom we also know from 'Infamy' and 'The Girl and the Cosmonaut'. Now, combining crime and drama with serial killers, the premise goes like this: When the body of a young woman appears on a beach in the Tricity area of Poland, the prosecutor joins the victim's mother in an impetuous search for the truth.

'The Colors of Evil: Red' is a decent, effective, very entertaining movie with a few surprises. Zofia Jastrzebska is fantastic... But when all is said and done, nothing has changed, you feel the same, you forget it. If you watch it, you'll have a good time; if not, you're not missing much. You won't find strong characters, an intelligent plot, anything you haven't seen before, nor brilliant direction, nor notable cinematography, music, or performances. It hardly has any action. However, it is quick, direct, concise, simple, and works as a distraction... But if you're looking for more, try a marvel like 'The Stranger', also on Netflix. Based on true events, it introduces two strangers who meet on a long journey. Apparently, they are two normal people with nothing to hide. But the reality is different, and they will soon discover it in the worst possible way. 'The Stranger' is a yes; 'The Colors of Evil: Red'... Maybe. Let me know if you like it.

I am surprised by the low rating!!

After a night on the town at the seaside, the body of a young woman, Monika, is found dead on a beach, with among other things, her lips cut off. A perfect start especially for fans of crime and rough stories.

Part of the story is told in flashback and the violence is, at times, pretty gruesome, and not for the faint of heart. But for some that may actually be a bonus.

It's about parents who don't know what they are doing, let alone what their children are up to. It's about a possible serial killer obsessed by women. The twists and turns go darker and darker and also more strange, it still worked for me as a portrait of pure evil.

This is not an arthouse film, but a very good crime thriller. The ending left me speechless, totally unexpected.

Don't miss it!