Don't come to be frightened

Rating: 8/10 (19 July 2019)

A group of young people travel to a foreign country for a getaway-but wait, it's not as by-the-numbers horror as it sounds, and if you're keen on brainless exploitation or action driven supernatural films, this isn't for you. It's not chock full of jump scares or fake builds. This is a movie for those who liked Hereditary, Mother, and VVitch, maybe even The Ritual.
Delve into a faux-Swedish pagan ritual culture where the natives are kind and communal, the countryside is grandiose and Village-esque, and the refreshments always look a bit iffy. No one is jumping out at you from dark corners, but you will never feel at ease throughout the runtime.
It's paced gingerly, filmed with flair, and relies heavily on human emotion and existential undercurrents to pull you into a story of grief, healing, separation, desire, and individuation.
Come to be unsettled. Come to be disoriented by bright environments, bizarre and sometimes silly symbolism, obvious shocks which still manage to be shocking, and blatant psychological metaphors. Come because gore and schlock are commonplace horror on streaming services, but slow-burn psychological stories are rare delicacies for theaters to serve.
Many, many people will come away confused, annoyed, and disappointed, but if you are willing to arm yourself with intellect and ask some difficult questions, you will find this compelling and ultimately satisfying as a moving piece of thoughtfully executed cinema.