My thoughts and impressions regarding "Citadel" are split in two . On one hand, the screenplay is vastly implausible and full of holes to a point where it even becomes frustrating to watch. On the other hand, though, it's undeniably one of the only movies ever that truly gave me shivers and made me feel genuinely uncomfortable. And, in the end, isn't that what a good horror/thriller does? The shivers are caused by the miserable atmosphere, the bleak settings, the identifiable fear in the eyes of the lead character, and the simple fact that the life of an innocent and defenseless infant is at stake the entire running time. Especially that last element made a big impact on me. If I had seen "Citadel" immediately after its release, in 2012, or even a few years later, it probably would have been just another average horror film. In the meantime, however, I am a father of two myself, and must acknowledge that the worst nightmare imaginable is that you're incapable of protecting your child from whatever type of wrongdoing.
Writer/director Cirián Foy based the plot on a personal and traumatizing experience, as he was menaced by a group of hoodlum kids when he was younger, and the subsequent years in which he developed agoraphobia. He captures the intensity of this condition very accurately. I don't know if he's also a young parent, but he definitely also accurately captures the horrible sentiment of not being able to protect your own child. The ghettos where "Citadel" takes place, as well as the titular building and the supportive characters, are genuinely depressing and petrifying. Aneurin Barnard gives an authentically honest performance, and two or three sequences come so unexpectedly, and are so tense, that I can only refer to this film as a gem... Just not suitable for everybody.
Writer/director Cirián Foy based the plot on a personal and traumatizing experience, as he was menaced by a group of hoodlum kids when he was younger, and the subsequent years in which he developed agoraphobia. He captures the intensity of this condition very accurately. I don't know if he's also a young parent, but he definitely also accurately captures the horrible sentiment of not being able to protect your own child. The ghettos where "Citadel" takes place, as well as the titular building and the supportive characters, are genuinely depressing and petrifying. Aneurin Barnard gives an authentically honest performance, and two or three sequences come so unexpectedly, and are so tense, that I can only refer to this film as a gem... Just not suitable for everybody.