Moloch

This one landed at a solid 6.5 for me and I decided to round up to a 7 as I am a bit biased towards folk horror.

The story, while a tad slow paced, was engaging and atmospheric. The plot was interesting and they kept it just slightly confusing enough to where I somehow did not see that twist at the end coming, even though I felt I totally should have haha

The acting was pretty on point the whole time, everyone seemed to have done a solid job. I enjoyed the mix of the two languages, it added another dimension to the story while also giving it a sense of relatability as an English speaker. Technically, the movie also shinned, it looked and sounded great.

The third act was by far the best part and while it took a bit to get there, the first two thirds were enjoyable as well. I think it would've been a bit more successful if they had shaved some of the dead space off or sprinkled a little bit of the magic that the third act had into the first two. Would definitely recommend.

This was better than expected. I was expecting a more Dick Maas kinda horror, since Dutch horror movies are not known for their finesse. But this would be a pretty decent Hollywood movie, so for a Dutch production: bravo! I am also in love with Sallie Harmsen now <3. Be sure to check it out when it hits Netflix or sth! 8/8,5.

It's funny how some reviewers write about 'cliches' here...what, in this day and age, hasn't borrowed from the past?

Another funny review was the one who wrote that they might've liked it more if it wasn't in Dutch...i'll let you figure out the humor in that on your own...(btw...there ARE subtitles available if you're watching it with a player that can handle subs. Like a vlc player. Free to download. Great player).

I'm a big fan of taking projects on their own merits...and this one puts a number of classic elements of horror together in a way that, for me, was pleasing... having lived here, in the Netherlands, for over 20 years, it was also very refreshing to see a movie come from here containing some of the 'folksy' dynamics i love so much about this country. Not only was it set here, but it WASn't set in one of the cities...THAT was extremely pleasing.. decent story, well done. Thanks. Hope to see more from the makers of this film...

This is strictly in the folk horror sub-genre, so don't go in expecting a slash-em-up. It takes a novelistic approach with a handful of characters who make unusual discoveries in a nearby peat bog. It's about 'digging' around for the secrets of the past and the consequences they have for Sallie Harmsen and her family.

Harmsen carries the whole movie and does a fantastic job. Give her more roles! The rest of the cast is good too, my only criticism being Alexandre Willaume's character being a bit boring and unecessary. If you cut his role out of the film entirely, not much would change. The cinematography is excellent and goes for lots of warm colours and coziness which I found refreshing.

The story unfolds slowly and as a result feels a little overlong, but it's a solid tale. It's dual language, which I enjoyed but some people don't like that (up to you). It's classic horror, much more M R James than James Wan. Thrilling? No. Scary? Not really. It's thoughtful and a bit sad. I liked it because it's an actual folk horror that isn't treated like a theme-park ride.

If you're hesitating, just watch this film. It has a little bit of a slow build up but then provides a really unnerving folk horror payoff. I'll be thinking about Moloch for a while.