Swedish horror From Darkness, which had its UK premiere at this year's FrightFest, is a dread-laced folk horror that can feel as lost in its intimidating location as its characters. The film follows park ranger Angelica and her former boyfriend, Viktor, as they journey into a nature reserve seeking a missing woman. The reserve brings with it both legend and history, riddled with caves that are the rumoured home of a Banshee, a spirit that once lured miners to their deaths. Added to this is a missing child case, which Angelica and Viktor know intimately and it’s a set-up rich for horror.
Early scenes build tension with a sense of grief and guilt as we learn the history of the forest. The stakes are well set up, even if they’re only properly fulfilled in the film’s final moments. And yet where From Darkness falls down is in a second act that gets stuck wandering through the woodland, waiting for monsters, both real and supernatural, to emerge for an effective finale. As effective as From Darkness’ woodland is, the film becomes less compelling as we watch our duo wander through it, slowly coming undone at snatched glances of horrors mostly unseen.
Even if the narrative can feel inert at times, director Philip da Silva crafts strong horror beats, with an effective sound design and a chilly cinematography that’ll make the audience shiver. The final act sees a ramping up of action and scares as the painful history of the woodland combines on proceedings.
Rakel Benér and Oscar Skagerberg as the central duo are compelling, playing off each other with an awkward mix of affection and suspicion. Other figures flit in and out of view but don’t really leave an impression on the narrative. If From Darkness doesn’t quite live up to the potential of its lore, it does at least work as a journey into a woodland dark and wicked.
3 Screams out of 5
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