Forty Winks

Rating: Null/10 (21 December 2014)

Never thought this one would get a theatrical release locally. Having said that, the only cinema in one of the places I stay at playing this one disappointed me by canceling the showing (and not intimating us long distance commuters since we don't matter) the first time I tried watching it.
Undeterred, I tried catching another one at a different city where I am staying for work, and this time the screening went off without a hitch, albeit in a small size cinema.
First off, the color palette used in the final product was quite evocative of another good attempt in this genre - The Conjuring. Muted colors mostly, and though I am NOt a fan of things being done for effect, the quality of the movie-making on this one was so high that I (kinda) ignored that reference.
Also, lest I forget while waxing eloquent on all the +s in this one, the artwork inherent in this, while also being used as an inventive narration technique, is very evocative of the superb work done on 'Coraline'. And that IS a compliment, and not meant to criticize.
Also, to me, this was also evocative of one of the best entries in this genre, the Hollywood remake of 'Dark Water' (know by the same name as well), in which Jennifer Connelly led one of the best mom-daughter casts in a movie that was nothing short of perfect.
Now, to the best parts: - Performance all round, but esp. the leads, Essie Davis and Noah Wisemen knock it outta the park. Each performance complements the other, as do their characters, and there are so many difficult portions that are completely embraced by both, that it is easy to see why this one is gaining accolades throughout. Both are Oscar-worthy turns, and I do hope someone (anyone) takes that into account come awards season. - The technical aspects, esp. the soundtrack, and the cinematography, almost are the supporting characters in this, as they ought to be on any genre entry worth the expense. In spite of the fact that this genre has been done to death (pun most deffo intended), having those 'jump' scares that still have the potential to make one, ehrm, 'jump', is nothing short of an achievement. That it does so creatively even, while foreshadowing said moments, is truly spectacular. That they are tied together by some truly subtle yet omnipresent editing makes the attention to detail all the more praiseworthy, and yes, award-worthy too. - I have referenced 'Dark Water', and that is the only element that could qualify as a spoiler going into this one, though in spite of that, this is still very much its own movie, and I still did not see the ending coming. Beautiful, perhaps one of the best endings I've had the pleasure of watching unfold in a long time yet.
However, it's not all perfect, and some portions in the movie do not hold up to the scrutiny that I subjected the plot to, based on how it decides to wind up, and that's a pity, along with the fact that a key horror element would almost make one laugh out loud at the movie (and it did that at multiple points when it reared it's kinda ugly head, taking the ones who were seriously engrossed completely out of the flick), instead of with the movie, and that was kinda unexpected (and disappointing) in an otherwise perfect effort.
All in all - a great time at the movies. Go watch it at the nearest multiplex before the mainstream juggernauts gobble up that slot.