Violett

It's nothing new under the sun. It is indeed horror but more of a psychological horror than a supernatural although they did manage to incorporate some supernatural elements and even a nod at the Disney show white witch trying to convince someone to eat the apple. That could have also been interpreted as eating the apple could open your eyes and make you see what's really happening like the garden of Eden. Anyway I actually didn't see the ending coming as you end up getting faked out not once, not twice, but three times and when you realize what really happened everything makes so much more sense. A movie with a plot and an ending. The build up was a little bit of a slow burn but once the ball gets rolling it rolls right up until the ending credits. I also would like to point out the over saturation of colors and the makeup used to convey emotion were fascinating. It's worth a watch for sure.

Sonya plays a great role as an addicted and sorrowful mother, whose child Violett apparently gets kidnapped, as have other children in the town. This movie is also notable for the vibrant colors in the cinematography. There are flashbacks, showing as a child Sonya suffered from a rather stern and possibly violent father, making her childhood one more of horror than of a carefree childhood. She also has dreams, that are woven with reality such that one cannot be certain if what she sees is real or in a dream. She is clearly addicted to drugs, and has the look about her of an addict who forgoes eating for drugs. Her dear child Violett just never returned home from school, and that was the day Sonya didn't accompany her home. We see early glimpses of the joy she had in meeting and marrying Stan but that seemed to be replaced with a more exasperated Stan, who tries but cannot pierce her state of mind. This is not a joyful film, and just some of what Sonya goes through is enough horror for many. The pacing may seem slow, but it unwinds the many interwoven parts nicely.

I labeled my review misunderstood because I misunderstood. I deleted my original review. What my original review got correct was the film is disturbing and disorienting. What I didn't realize was just how much so. This was a well done slowburn. Don't make the same mistake I did and have patience. If you do you'll understand how dark, demented, and twisted this really was. I thought I was desensitized, but when I realized what actually happened I couldn't believe how cruel and evil people could be to each other. I didn't see it coming and now that I understand I have to say, well played!! Give it a watch.

Some of the best horror films are those that burn slowly, embers of nightmarish intent smouldering until the end, and continuing to burn into the mind long after the final image fades.

VIOLETT (named after the young girl in the film) is a study of psychological disrepair, shrouded by an ominous cloud of despair. It's a young woman's personal hell, a mother, Sonya (Georgia Eyers), traumatised, struggling to cope, terrified for her young daughter's safety.

There is danger at her doorstep. Her husband is at wit's end, and her neighbours are weird. As Sonya's reality unravels - providing the viewer with a suitably unreliable perspective - the darkest truth is finally uncovered. It's a terrific ending.

Imagine David Lynch down under. Think the elements of mystery and allure from Blue Velvet, but from the point of view of Dorothy.

Writer/director Steven Mihaljevich has conjured a very dreamlike portrait of the ruinous nature of guilt. Rich in symbolism and texture. It's a film that is beautiful and grim in equal measure. Georgia Eyers is fantastic in the lead role as Sonya.

Watch it on the biggest screen you can.

I really appreciate these types of films where you aren't expecting much and then the movie exceeds your expectations. From start to finish the tone of the film is one of unease; it keeps you guessing while maintaining a sense of mystery. The fact that it wasn't made by a big budget studio was to its benefit, the cinematography and acting is significantly better than what you would expect from a typical hollywood horror film. I think big movie studios are afraid to produce more artistic and creative films like this because they might not fare as well in the box office. The practical effects and use of color added to the overall experience throughout. Ultimately, it's a film about grief and trauma above all else, while the more conventional horror aspects are used to drive the plot. It's refreshing to see unique films like this when we all too often get the same cookie cutter horror films being pumped out by Hollywood. The movie currently has under 1,000 votes which is a little disappointing considering that it doesn't have the audience the film deserves. This is one I plan on rewatching to fully appreciate all the nuance and detail I might have missed.