★ 7 / 10
Austrian movies have a very particular way to
BornKnight
Austrian movies have a very particular way to be and "Luzifer" does not escape to the rule. 25% drama, 25% Thriller, 50% folk psychologic drama. This one was…
Austrian movies have a very particular way to be and "Luzifer" does not escape to the rule. 25% drama, 25% Thriller, 50% folk psychologic drama. This one was directed and written by Peter Brunner, a filmmaker (this is his 4th movie) and musician. The movie have both the characteristic of a parable between innocence and fury (especially the last one is seen in the scenes of self-martyrization)..
This could be easily one of arthouse A24 movies - very unique in the way it tells the story and show the images, getting some resemblance in the "folk terror" sprawled across all the movie weirdness and the way the characters acts (it have some resemblance in feeling with "Lamb" , 2021 by A24 in that side without the fantasy part.
It tells the story of an adult man in his 30 to 40's, literally with the mind of an 8 year boy, without the concept of death firm in his head that lives in a remote hut in an isolate Mountain range in Austria. His mother (a widow) had some problems with alcoholism, being clean from it since she married him (that died in an unknown time before).
She raises the man-boy in a humble shack with little use of modern technology by the means of an electricity generator, and both have cellphones for the small talking with people outside.
She is resisting skying companies that are cutting the holy lands were she and her son inherit and don't want to sell, while being bullied and harassed by them, especially by drones that comes from a hole high in a mountain that she calls "hell".
All seems to be very normal reading here, but I assure it it isn't - the way of life they have is the strangest hardcore early Christian (and yes, Austria is one of the main Catholic countries in the world) mixed with heavy Natural Pagan ways to interact with each other and the nature around them. Almost no line of dialog of them makes sense.
The cinematography by Peter Flinckenberg is very haunting, again similar to "Lamb", but darker in the use of shadows, light, fog and composition and by itself something to see. The same about the OST, almost non-existent and consisted of sober sounds made by acclaimed electronic musician Peter Flinckenberg (from "Infinity Pool").
* Spoiler ahead:
At some point the aggressiveness of the company reaches the top that it cans forcing his mother in alcoholism again, sickness and death, then realized in it's full form by her son.
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★ 6 / 10
Where's the baby?
kosmasp
There's the baby/devil - now I will not bother going through my mind or my thoughts for this sentence that is one of the most used ones in the movie. There are…
There's the baby/devil - now I will not bother going through my mind or my thoughts for this sentence that is one of the most used ones in the movie. There are not too many things that are being said, but this will stay with you. And the movie might stay with you too. I know that the manchild character certainly will. And while I am not the biggest fan of the specific actor, he did a great job portraying that said character.
The location is great and the sound design helps elevate this for all arthouse lovers. The mother character seems to not have done much in the acting world, but that is nothing that actually matters when it comes to the movie. It may even have been freeing for the director to see her spread her wings - no pun intended to other creatures who actually do this.
There are many things that get touched upon here - and again, if you see a pun here, I love the way you're thinking but try to get your head out of there. Trying to get ones head out of society - one of the themes. Which is hard all things considering - like having electricity and relying on a lot of people - not just God. The devil can be everywhere or you will be able to see him everywhere, if you look hard enough.
Also while we are never told how long the two have been living there, the fact they still use things from the modern world might be an indicator. The kid (man) who seems lost - and he wouldn't fare better in the "real" world, has been led to believe a few things. He only knows his mother and a handful of other people. He really does a great job - but the movie takes its sweet time. Something you can either get down with or be annoyed by. The movie still is able to deliver one final punch that is quite exhilarating. Certain (religious) things are hammered into the viewer, others are done with more subtlety. There is a strange mix going on here, that some will love because ... you know art.
But I am certain the director had a clear vision of what he wanted to make and he knows there is an audience for this kind of stuff. Those who will love it, will absolutely adore it ... but a lot will be just bored by it. Symbolisms and slow pacing are up for grabs ... sort of.
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★ 5 / 10
some feelings
j_movie
I thought it would rise to retaliation against outsiders. Unexpectedly, the story continued between mother and son and myself. It was boring and wasted a good…
I thought it would rise to retaliation against outsiders. Unexpectedly, the story continued between mother and son and myself. It was boring and wasted a good theme.
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100%
TOMATOMETER
· 6 reviews
56%
AUDIENCE
5.6/10
1.1K
•••
I don't know why this film is categorized with action and horror as well. It's a very serious drama, in fact pure tragedy, and it's brilliant. Atmosphere and stunning sceneries aside, this is a top quality, emotionally intelligent film for those who like to be made to think, to empathize, to understand and appreciate metaphors and the psychological.