This phenomenal piece of film-making stands up to the scrutiny of its remake status; riveting, unconventional work.

Rating: 8/10 (19 February 2018)

Sadly, the planned trilogy will never see the light of day but luckily this, what would have been a first instalment, is a phenomenal piece of film-making capable to stand up to the scrutiny of its remake status and failed franchise label. Its actually all the stronger for not feeling as though it must conform to convention or wrap itself up in a neat little bow - instead leaving some strands dangling, waiting for a sequel that will never come - but still feels entirely intentional and wholly complete. The beautiful compositions juxtapose the picture's underlying darkness, with the two-strand structure dancing delicately around its destructive characters and contemplative detective work, and there's a real sense of an ominous under-layer to even the most innocuous of moments, moments which are never far from ones of pure, unrelenting evil manifested in unexpected but eerily true-to-life ways. Riveting, unconventional work. 8/10