**This review DOES CONTAIN SPOILERS** Citadel is a bit difficult to put into one category. I'd define it as a psychological thriller with a bit of horror tossed in. The film is well shot and the story moves along at a good pace. I got the sense the film aimed to keep you tense without scaring you too much outright, and if that was indeed their aim they accomplished it.
Pros: The main character Tommy played by Aneurin Barnard is very well done. His acting is superb throughout and helps make up for a few of the film's shortcomings. The sense of tension throughout the film holds very well and keeps the viewer interested in seeing things through. The film's exploration of Tommy's agoraphobia is powerful without being overpowering. The fears Tommy has are realistic. If you have ever dealt with someone who has gone thru traumatic events, you know that in some cases reasoning and rationalizing are no match for the fear and anxiety that can develop. The film throws in "slightly supernatural" villains but does so in a way that they do not outshine the real villain, which is Tommy's phobia. The monsters shown on screen are a well-done complement to the the terror that is within Tommy's mind.
Cons: The priest character is a bit cliché. Towards the end of the story, the twist involving the priest doesn't really add anything to the film. You can see it coming a mile away. It only made me think they were trying a bit too much to be clever/shocking. If they had left it out, i think the film would have been better off.
Overall I give Citadel 7 1/2 stars. It's "quite good" but not quite "very good." Definitely worth watching a time or two.
Pros: The main character Tommy played by Aneurin Barnard is very well done. His acting is superb throughout and helps make up for a few of the film's shortcomings. The sense of tension throughout the film holds very well and keeps the viewer interested in seeing things through. The film's exploration of Tommy's agoraphobia is powerful without being overpowering. The fears Tommy has are realistic. If you have ever dealt with someone who has gone thru traumatic events, you know that in some cases reasoning and rationalizing are no match for the fear and anxiety that can develop. The film throws in "slightly supernatural" villains but does so in a way that they do not outshine the real villain, which is Tommy's phobia. The monsters shown on screen are a well-done complement to the the terror that is within Tommy's mind.
Cons: The priest character is a bit cliché. Towards the end of the story, the twist involving the priest doesn't really add anything to the film. You can see it coming a mile away. It only made me think they were trying a bit too much to be clever/shocking. If they had left it out, i think the film would have been better off.
Overall I give Citadel 7 1/2 stars. It's "quite good" but not quite "very good." Definitely worth watching a time or two.