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Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Movie Review: Body of water (Syvälle salattu)

Body of Water (Syvälle Salattu)
Director: Joona Tena
Starring: Krista Kosonen, Peter Franzén, Kai Lehtinen, Kari Hietalahti, Viljami Nojonen, Risto Aaltonen.
Matila Röhr Productions. Finland, 2011


Long ago a famine hit a village and the miller begged the lake for help. The lake spirit promised to help for a price: his first-born son. Years later Julia (Krista Kosonen) and her son visit her parents. Julia is working as a lawyer, and despite her parents' warnings is going to visit a desolate village. There she tries to gain support for the nature conservationists who are resisting electric company's plans to build a water power plant. However the locals give cold shoulder to her. Also her family seems to have dark secrets. 
Damp cellars are scary.
The cinematography is good and uses plenty of watery environments. The mythology of the film uses old Finnish legends about water spirit Näkki and the village has creepy atmosphere. The movie style is somewhat remiscent of Spanish horror film Hierro and Japanese Ringu and Dark Water, both of which also had single mother protagonists. All in all the movies is quite good and exciting... until the final. I won't spoil but the ending breaks the whole setting and also leaves numerous plot holes.

Lovely lake. Or not.
Rating: Average

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