L'orafo

A group of hoodlums breaks into a house looking for something, and in the process takes the owners hostage. Sounds like something that you've seen in a ton of movies, right? Well, that's where "L'orafo" ("The Goldsmith" in English) takes a different turn. You see, there were a number of things that the home invaders didn't know about this particular couple.

Vincenzio Ricchiuto's movie is a fine addition to the Euro-horror genre. Undeniably shocking, and even kind of gross in a few scenes, it still manages to put a fun spin on the home invasion cliche. I doubt that it'll ever get remembered as an all-time classic, but it doesn't need to be. It's enjoyable for what it is.

Stefania Casini (Giovanna) co-starred with Robert DeNiro and Gerard Depardieu in Bernardo Bertolucci's "1900".

I always find home invasion thrillers to be particularly chilling, because the horror is brought right into your own safe space. The decent ones make me feel so anxious, that I put a baseball bat into the umbrella stand for a good while.

In any case, it's not a new concept that the victims are able to turn the tables, but it's an adrenaline rush to watch. I mean who doesn't enjoy seeing bad types provoke the wrong people and get an overdose of comeuppance?

Vincenzo Ricchiuto's debut feature is thoroughly engaging for the first act. The tension build is well constructed and as much of what is happening remains a mystery, it's intriguing enough to have you already searching for clues. Antonio and Giovanna are great as the elderly couple because they're so fragile and sweet but simultaneously quite vicious.

The payoff is sadly somewhat generic and could have been more imaginative. I have to say though, I did rewind that final shot just because it was so completely odd (you'll see what I mean).

Overall, this is a solid home invasion thriller that is enjoyable enough.

Most modern day physiological thrillers fail to keep me captivated with their overused plots and monotonous acting and leave me feeling bored, but with The Goldsmith, I felt the opposite. It's one of the few films that truly captivated my attention from beginning to end. The way the creators handled this film with its subtle plot twists and impending danger verily sparks the intensity of the viewer's imagination as the story progresses growing darker and darker. The combination of present and past flashback scenes were done well especially as the characters were forced to reminisce on their past choices in regards to impacting their current states letting the viewer see their true characters. I think the actors portrayed their characters impeccably well, especially the older couple who were absolutely perfect for their roles. It left me ruminating long after the film finished and now I don't trust old people...

No pun intended - there is a saying in Germany about not everything being gold that shines. The same can be said about this movie. Furthermore the movie feels a bit like another movie I've seen - recently that is. Because of course not too many ideas that have not been done before. And I don't mean that in a bad way - it is tough to come up with something original.

It is also tough to be steps ahead of the viewers. I'd say that the movie is quite predictable ... and not just because there is a British movie that is ... or has similar stuff in it. Not a copy (either of them), but both in the same genre ... and both quite similar in the violence department too ... crazy to say the least ... and not for the sensitive souls or those who are faint of heart as they say. If you wonder which english movie I think is similar: I do not remember the title ... sorry for that. But I am certain you'll find it if you look for it. I think the other one is a bit stronger than this one - but that is my personal opinion - and this ain't bad either.

Looking for an easy score, a group of thugs decides to break into the house of an elderly couple on the outskirts of town looking for a series of jewels or other valuables inside, but when they realize the couple might be more deranged than they expected must try to prevent their diabolical plans.

Overall, this was a pretty solid genre effort. One of the better elements here is the means through which the film manages to utilize the highly underwhelming ploy of a home invasion. The familiar setup of a group of criminals looking to take advantage of the elderly couple that lives there only to find themselves subject to far more danger and terror than they're prepared for is the secondary setup for the genre that leaves the film with a big hill to overcome. As the idea for this one gets exposed nicely enough so that the film can explore an intriguing twist where the couple holds them hostage for their own means toying with them to reveal several secrets they hold, this setup gradually sets the stage for some cruel and graphic twists to come about giving this one some great gore to go with everything as it comes off quite nicely. However, that highlights a major issue here in that the film really only picks up once it's revealed what their deranged hobby really is. Far too much of the middle of the film focuses on the reveals that come about between the group as the idea of them already being scumbags was established so the need to keep harping on it by getting these secrets revealed and announced at this point doesn't do anything special for them. That also extends the running time with very little of any interest during this period where it consists of nothing more than seeing them stuck in a single room unable to escape and talking to a figure in another room over a monitor system that isn't all that interesting or exciting. It's all pretty big issues with this one and is enough to lower this one on the whole.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence and Graphic Language.