The Sonata

An interesting case for me - an unlikely indie I saw on the local big screen on Halloween eve, it was shown here because the movie is shot almost entirely in the country I live in (Latvia), mainly in the 19th century Cesvaine Palace, where I've also been. I was very intrigued upon hearing about it - I had no idea there was such a project. It's hard to understand how much bias I possess criticizing "The Sonata", but it was indeed quite enjoyable.

"The Sonata" starts off with a pretty cool POV style intro and the late Rutger Hauer himself, the first half of the movie we spend mostly listening to a lot of story building dialogue, getting to know the archaic but decent characters, and also enjoying decent original score that's almost a character itself. The atmosphere feels gothic, misty, at times spooky and at times like its reaching for something but not quite achieving it. All the performances are commendable, I especially enjoyed the one by Simon Abkarian. The second half is the better half, things start to escalate more, atmosphere gets more dense, there are one or two actually good jumpscares and a somewhat lacking but acceptable climax. Cinematography's fine for the most part, the main location is utilised competently & effectively, even the cgi used managed to not cross the line of cheese.

The story as a whole is nothing new really, it might make you reminisce about better interpretations of the same thing, but with a pinch of occult themes, a splash of cleverly included music "The Sonata" offers a decent entertainment for anyone who enjoys ghost stories, paranormal horror, gothic mood pieces and classical music. As for me, the additional value was to see places & nature that's very familiar to me get used in probably the biggest horror movie ever filmed in this small country. My rating: 6/10.

Firstly, the cinematography is wonderful, but it looks like it was shot on video, a shame they couldn't have made it more film like, as the video effect makes it look cheap.

The female lead is desperately unlikeable, maybe she's meant to be, but I think making her personality a little more pleasant would have been a good thing.

There is bags of atmosphere here, but the story seems rushed, and at just about 83 minutes running time, it could have been longer and the story fleshed out more.

Also, for anyone considering the German blu ray which has an English soundtrack, well yes it does, but there are three instances of French being spoken, and there are no English subtitles for them, which means you have to switch the German subtitles on, and then use Google translate, unless you speak French of course!

The idea is great, but the execution isn't that brilliant, a bigger budget would definitely have helped here.

To me The Sonata deserves a higher rating than it actually got on here. Andrew Desmond did a good job with this movie. There is a certain dark athmosphere created, mostly by the excellent soundtrack. If you want to make a good horror movie (even thought it's not categorized as such, but it should) you need good sound effects and music, that's just essential and in The Sonata it's just perfect. The acting wasn't bad either. I would have liked a bigger part for Rutger Hauer but the rest of the cast did certainly well. The Sonata isn't a very visual horror movie even though there are some good frightening scenes and jump scares, it's more an athmospheric horror movie that has it from the sound and story. Not bad at all if you like that stuff.

This movie will not stimulate your brain nor will it scare you. However, it was very atmospheric and moved at a nice pace. It started off quite good then for some reason, took a nose dive about half way through. The protagonist was also somewhat unlikeable and we never really get to know her in order to like her better. I found myself not really caring what happens to any of the characters. It started off well, but needed more character development and more of a story. The ending was overly simplistic. But I can't say it was boring.

"The Sonata" excels at creating a haunting and immersive atmosphere. The film's gothic setting, complete with a decaying mansion and eerie landscapes, effectively establishes a sense of dread and unease. The cinematography beautifully captures the dark and mysterious ambiance, drawing viewers into its chilling world.

The storyline, revolving around a young violinist who inherits a mansion and discovers her father's sinister compositions, is compelling. The integration of classical music with supernatural elements provides a fresh and intriguing twist on the horror genre. The mysterious sonata and its hidden messages keep the audience engaged and curious about the unfolding mystery.

Freya Tingley, who plays the protagonist, delivers a convincing and emotive performance. Her portrayal of the tormented musician navigating through grief, curiosity, and terror is compelling. Rutger Hauer's role, although limited, adds a significant presence and gravitas to the film, enhancing its overall impact.

The film suffers from uneven pacing, with moments that drag and others that feel rushed. The build-up to key plot revelations can be slow, testing the audience's patience. Conversely, some critical developments occur too abruptly, leaving viewers wishing for a more gradual and fleshed-out progression.

Despite its intriguing premise, some of the plot twists in "The Sonata" are predictable and lack the intended shock value. Horror enthusiasts might find certain elements cliché, as the film occasionally relies on familiar tropes and predictable scares, diminishing the overall tension.

While the lead characters receive adequate attention, several supporting characters are underdeveloped. The motivations and backstories of the characters are not fully explored, leaving the narrative lacking in depth that could have been added. This underdevelopment makes it harder for the audience to form a strong connection with or investment in these characters.