Tension was gooooood Horror/Thriller at it's best

Rating: 8/10 (6 November 2018)

First off - clearly the *reviewers* giving this film 1 star fail to understand the true definition of the horror genre and have been brought up on a diet of jumpscare and slasher horror. Indeed they want their *horror* to be spoon fed to them on a plate swimming in gore accompanied by the usual diet of knowing in advance who is going to fall victim next and who the last man standing will be.
This film gives you none of these things. The very beginning see's a victim you almost NEVER see in a film - and that is a child. It also doesn't waste half the running time generating a backstory and pandering to the types who have little or no imagination and are basically too lazy to actually think while watching a film . The brief killing of the first victim and a look into the fathers' work room gives you all you need to know about the environment. The performances are excellent, the tension builds quickly and doesn't let up and I found myself holding my breath. After 50 years of watching movies this isn't something that happens too often.
But if you are going to watch horror films (and even most non-horror), the suspension of disbelief by the viewer is crucial. You have to want to be able to feel the awfulness of being in such a situation; this film did that for me and I was totally invested.I can honestly say there was only one thing that brought me *out* of the film and yes it was that damn nail! But big deal, I got over it in about 5 seconds and was totally immersed in the life and death struggle again.
If you want total reality - go and watch a documentary - if you want to feel that tensing of your stomach muscles and breathless anticipation watch A Quiet Place.