icelandknight

Must confess I was kinda screwed up for YEARS by "The Exorcist". This one has similar vibes, but much milder. Its missionaries in an area that has / had its own Native South American Spirits... and the people very much believe their Medicine Man can cure their ailments with white magic, and animal sacrifices, not unlike "The Believers" (Sangria) then a lesser degree "Serpent and the Rainbow", "Angel Heart" that are MAJOR movies, in a league of their own, quality wise... but similar vibes, although "Shaman", like Exorcist, has more focus on the kid. Lots of actors screaming and audience jump scares, if you are into that, you will enjoy this movie. It MAY even leave a little something in your brain, afterwards... but NOT as much as "The Woman in Black" (1989). That one may kill you.

No idea IF its because I am not as young as I used to be, but... I felt the same as the actress... and would have loved to just STAY in the fake movie set forever, rather than go back to our original "dying" world that we live in.

Hotel Reverie would become like a Heaven... but of our choosing. I must confess, as was hinted, I would have chosen to STAY with the characters, rather than finish the AI genrated "film" and lose the scene... and go back the a less perfect world that we have to live in.

There have been other films that have made me want to hop in, and just live there ("Last Action Hero", for example... They are few and far between, but... This is one.

First I must say the music was very... approriate. One always thought one HAD the PLOT... Then one didn't. Each plot twist made this movie different than one expected. Also surprising was the level of detail, compared to other "lost in the woods" movies. So "easy" to make "lost in the woods" movies... but to include a science angle, and bunkers, as well as somewhat lofty elements from myths, was also very unexpected, but exiremely appreciated. The film has many ENDS... and just when you think "ok, this MUST be it"... There's MORE. To a fine excess. Its got its "slow" parts, and I can understand some reviewers may have found those moments "dull"... but they set the scene, for a more immersive plot, and give the viewers a taste of being stuck somewhere. I'd compare this to "Invasion of the Body Snatches" meets "The Ritual". Elements also took me to computer games like "Metro" and "FarCry" with shadows of underground critters, tunnels and bunkers. Also, to me, this was a pleasant and optimistic movie, opening possibilities of more than we know, hidden in our world. I love that. Interaction with "Hidden People" of legend is well known in, for example, Iceland.