Chilling Tale of Obsession

Rating: 10/10 (30 August 2009)

This was an unexpected surprise, a tale of suspense and horror, built around one of the most malevolent villains to come out of cinema in the last 75 years. For a moment, I kept thinking that if the bad guy here went up against the demon of "The Exorcist" or good old Jason or Freddy, those guys wouldn't stand a chance against this villain. Evil apparently lurks in the most unexpected places, and it is behind one interesting facade here.
As the story unfolds, we discover that Esther is full of surprises and that there is very little she is not willing to do to prove a point or protect herself. As those actions become more intense and we cringe as we wait for the next deathly action to take place, we also marvel at the complexity of the story, for this is no ordinary horror thriller. It builds upon the demons that have been haunting a family for the last few years.
Beautifully photographed and scored, and directed with strong confidence, the film never stops surprising you and doesn't let you go until the very last minute. The most impressive factor is the acting of all the principals involved, for this is not a movie that relies solely in special effects, a loud soundtrack, or quick cuts to create an oppressive atmosphere where evil thrives.
It is somewhat original, hypnotic, and perfectly able to show the various degrees and faces of violence and hatred, throw in a twist of psychosis and one of the scariest characters since Hannibal Lectoer, and we almost wish there was a sequel in the works. A classic is born.