I fancied some escapism and had wanted to see this for a while. It looked dark, brooding and potentially a little off the wall. There's a lot of space here, in the frame, in the dialogue, it invites you in. Shot mostly in rural Ireland, Alan McKenna plays the central role, isolated in a simple existence. One of surveying said rural areas. Think forests, old country houses, with creepy books on the shelves, old framed cross-stitch on the walls and a sense of foreboding in the stillness. There's some good thriller tropes and it's a bit Blair Witch without the whining. There's enough bumps, creaks, menacingly eerie gusts of wind to keep you on your toes and more than one occasion that frightened the life out of me. If McKenna does a good job as he slips into his own paranoia and fictional confusion, the real stars are Gavin O'Brien and Neil O'Connor in the sound department, single handedly driving the tension in almost every scene. It's not brilliant and far from perfect, but it sweeps along building nicely and comes to an oddly satisfying end.
22 Reviews
Forest of mystery....
stephenw-3018030 October 2017
I hate to throw "water on the fires of praise" but have to give an honest opinion of this film as I see it.
The three previous reviews rave about the artistic nuances and beauty of nature melding with psychological mystery in "without name". I do agree the acting and sound track were good and suites the theme of this film. However, it is a far cry from being a thriller/Horror film and although unique I'm not sure what genre this film fits in to.
I found the film boating and purposeless. There were some nice lighting shots and shadowy artistic scenes but that does not a good film make.
Without Windows is a journey of a man (and woman) working to survey land for a mysterious man. Mush of the plot is never explained or resolved. I know this is offered up as an attempt at an artistic naturalistic mystery, but, IMO, falls short in being anything other then 70+ minutes of trees, trees and more trees. All of the additional story line and narrative seems to convolute any meaning and purpose.
Again, there are some merits to this film in way of the use of lighting and score, but, the movie moves at a snails pace and builds to a rather anti climactic ending. I was left wondering what message did this film have to convey.
To each his own. I felt the viewing of this movie was as interesting as watching grass grow.
The three previous reviews rave about the artistic nuances and beauty of nature melding with psychological mystery in "without name". I do agree the acting and sound track were good and suites the theme of this film. However, it is a far cry from being a thriller/Horror film and although unique I'm not sure what genre this film fits in to.
I found the film boating and purposeless. There were some nice lighting shots and shadowy artistic scenes but that does not a good film make.
Without Windows is a journey of a man (and woman) working to survey land for a mysterious man. Mush of the plot is never explained or resolved. I know this is offered up as an attempt at an artistic naturalistic mystery, but, IMO, falls short in being anything other then 70+ minutes of trees, trees and more trees. All of the additional story line and narrative seems to convolute any meaning and purpose.
Again, there are some merits to this film in way of the use of lighting and score, but, the movie moves at a snails pace and builds to a rather anti climactic ending. I was left wondering what message did this film have to convey.
To each his own. I felt the viewing of this movie was as interesting as watching grass grow.
A solid psychological horror for the directorial debut of Lorcan Finnegan
Daly_Reviews18 February 2017
Warning: Spoilers
The Irish horror film "Without Name" is a great first effort for director Lorcan Finnegan. This low budget feature stars Alan McKenna as the middle-aged man Eric contracted to survey a dense woodland known by locals as gan ainm, translated from Irish as: without name. Leaving his apathetic wife and troubled son he sets out to escape his life in the city for a short while to engross himself in work and his love affair. Unfortunately for Eric the classic escapism of Irish folk tales which helped inspire the film are riddled with mischievous creatures, dark forests and malevolent forces. The shifting light of the mysterious forest and unsettling land begin to disturb his mind as he is haunted by a silhouette through the trees.
The direction and visual style of Without Name is great, drawing you into the paradoxical claustrophobia of a dense wood, where light can trick the eyes and the cold and decrepit bark of the trees form the bars of a cage. While more of a psychological thriller than the classic horror similar to films like Bergman's "Hour of the Wolf" Lorcan really shows a knack for the genre skillfully rendering a mans slow descent into madness. The film is not a scary one nor does it seem to try to be one. Lorcan never uses cheap tricks and seems to understand that the true fears of man lay in the shadows and in the recesses of the mind which in my opinion should be at the roots of all great horror films.
The acting at times was fantastic and at other times a bit stale however Alan McKenna managed to round out the film with a spectacular performance throughout. A standout for me was the incredible sound design. While not fully polished the score and sound effects beautifully draws you into the dizzying and chilling world in the woods. The special effects were simple which is expected for a film of this budget yet they along with the music were effective in portraying the impression of paranoia and mini-Spoiler: a mushroom trip. The film has many references to Irish fairy tales including a short description of the fairy circles which cause men to get lost in the woods forever walking in circles, which I loved even if for nothing more than nostalgia of my childhood. These elements on top of the beautiful fauna make this a uniquely Irish film.
While Without Name did touch on some ideas including a Terence McKenna like philosophy, which were visually told throughout the story through the diary of the enigmatic William Devoy, the film to me really did not seem to say anything particularly interesting or artistic. The story and writing was good. It was a slow burn but the build up and ending was fantastically crafted. The story and themes had this unique Irish tinge but overall it did not seem wholly original. The narrative and twists have been done before and it felt very familiar at times.
Without Name as a film was very solid and an haunting watch. It looked and sounded great at times but it failed to truly say or do anything original. It is a must see watch for fans of Irish film and those tired of the usual tropes of jump scares and gore of contemporary horror film. As a lover of psychological films I thoroughly enjoyed it and I have great expectations for the future projects of the director.
The direction and visual style of Without Name is great, drawing you into the paradoxical claustrophobia of a dense wood, where light can trick the eyes and the cold and decrepit bark of the trees form the bars of a cage. While more of a psychological thriller than the classic horror similar to films like Bergman's "Hour of the Wolf" Lorcan really shows a knack for the genre skillfully rendering a mans slow descent into madness. The film is not a scary one nor does it seem to try to be one. Lorcan never uses cheap tricks and seems to understand that the true fears of man lay in the shadows and in the recesses of the mind which in my opinion should be at the roots of all great horror films.
The acting at times was fantastic and at other times a bit stale however Alan McKenna managed to round out the film with a spectacular performance throughout. A standout for me was the incredible sound design. While not fully polished the score and sound effects beautifully draws you into the dizzying and chilling world in the woods. The special effects were simple which is expected for a film of this budget yet they along with the music were effective in portraying the impression of paranoia and mini-Spoiler: a mushroom trip. The film has many references to Irish fairy tales including a short description of the fairy circles which cause men to get lost in the woods forever walking in circles, which I loved even if for nothing more than nostalgia of my childhood. These elements on top of the beautiful fauna make this a uniquely Irish film.
While Without Name did touch on some ideas including a Terence McKenna like philosophy, which were visually told throughout the story through the diary of the enigmatic William Devoy, the film to me really did not seem to say anything particularly interesting or artistic. The story and writing was good. It was a slow burn but the build up and ending was fantastically crafted. The story and themes had this unique Irish tinge but overall it did not seem wholly original. The narrative and twists have been done before and it felt very familiar at times.
Without Name as a film was very solid and an haunting watch. It looked and sounded great at times but it failed to truly say or do anything original. It is a must see watch for fans of Irish film and those tired of the usual tropes of jump scares and gore of contemporary horror film. As a lover of psychological films I thoroughly enjoyed it and I have great expectations for the future projects of the director.
Not much happening here...
paulclaassen18 June 2018
This was very creepy thanks to clever photography and sound effects, and genuinely good acting. It is, however, a rather quiet and slow moving film with not much happening apart from the characters' minds playing tricks on them. It turns very weird towards the end. I think the guy who wrote this had too many mushrooms...
Nature domains
kikinhocarioca12 May 2022
The movie is creepy and psychological, if your expectations are stupid yankee popcorn horror i understand why you gave it less than 5 stars
This film has an obvious pro nature message, wich i completely share..the sound the lights, the locations.
Give it a chance if you arent a shallow idiot popcorn fan.
Give it a chance if you arent a shallow idiot popcorn fan.
Very slow & "artsy"
caity190126 July 2018
Warning: Spoilers
If you like slow building movies, with a ton of woodland & forest imagery, you're bound to love this. I watched it as the trailer made it seem much more fast paced & shocking than it is, to be honest I was really bored and the only time I had to turn away from the screen was when the flashing images really sped up.
The story revolves around a man, in a cottage, who's mistress/coworker joins him and they go to a caravan, take mushrooms, then later he takes a whole bunch of different kinds of mushrooms and essentially becomes a space cadet - i.e. loses his mind. The only way I'd consider watching it again is if I myself am on mushrooms.
The story revolves around a man, in a cottage, who's mistress/coworker joins him and they go to a caravan, take mushrooms, then later he takes a whole bunch of different kinds of mushrooms and essentially becomes a space cadet - i.e. loses his mind. The only way I'd consider watching it again is if I myself am on mushrooms.
Deeply understated, maybe too smart for its own well-being - but very good
I_Ailurophile15 October 2022
It's hard to completely pin this one down. I'm a fan of the occasional extra-subdued genre film, and this is certainly one of them - maybe even the utmost example. Composers are credited for a score that's only occasionally present (though it's often lovely when it is). Sound effects are so minimized in the audio mix that at some points they're rather almost entirely inaudible (if not for generous subtitles one might never know there was any "ominous droning" we're supposed to hear). Dialogue is only infrequently uttered in anything above a tame indoor pitch (and at that, only in the last third). The first third comes and goes so softly that even as protagonist Eric obliquely inquires about oddities, the viewer is made to earnestly wonder "wait, what happened?" The second third is defined almost entirely by dialogue and a bad trip. Suffice to say that whatever one's opinion of it, 'Without name' isn't a movie for those seeking the immediate and visceral. I'll say it now, though - with patience comes reward.
Dialogue is mostly vague and indistinct, not least as characters speak airily of some imprecise philosophical profundities, and if possible the scene writing and characters are even more fuzzy. That Alan McKenna's protagonist mostly mumbles and frowns his way through the picture is contrasted with the more typical comportment and delivery of the sparing supporting characters, but even they seem like mere approximations of people. In addition to some of the loftier dialogue, there are a few scenes that would seem to impart some specific, concrete through-line to the course of events as characters have strange experiences with, in, among, or of flora, yet given the hazy nature of the writing here at large, it's not unreasonable to question all the while if these have just been projections of a viewer who is reading too much into what unfolds before us. So it is as well for what is clearly mindful and purposeful (and, one way or another, finely executed) cinematography, editing, and effects. How intentional is all this amorphousness?
There is, at length, a definite narrative that gradually crystallizes in the last third. Abstruse themes present of the power of nature, and surrender to it whether by will or coercion. As Eric's abnormal time in the forest reaches its zenith over these ninety minutes, a pointedly broken sense of reality emerges, and it's evident that 'Without name' has aimed to be an extremely underhanded approach toward psychological horror by way of art film pretensions and a very (welcome) ecologically-friendly perspective on the world. The pay-off is long, slow, and quiet, but delicious, like subtle flavors in the bouquet of a glass of wine that manifest at the tail end of a sip and linger thereafter. For all the emphatic nuance, intelligence, and hard work that went into this feature I can only commend filmmaker Lorcan Finnegan, screenwriter Garret Shanley, and those contributing from behind the scenes. The filming location itself is truly gorgeous, and so uniquely paramount in the production that I almost wonder if the forest shouldn't have gotten a producer credit. The result of all this is a picture that is ultimately as entrancing as it is murky and almost abstract - and, I would wager, very likely to inspire feelings of hate in many who might watch it.
Do any of these words make sense? Have I wandered into the same nebulous territory of shapelessness as much of Shanley's screenplay would superficially seem to? In fairness, for those who engage with 'Without name' and come out the other end liking it, I don't know how one could speak at length of it without adopting the same affectations. There's at once so much and so little going on here; a title bursting with genius and life, yet shoving all of it into the smallest possible corner; a marvel, and a bore. I love it for exactly what it is, and also wish it maybe possessed just the slightest bit more clarity or definition. Does this sound like the type of movie you enjoy? If yes, then step right up; if not, your options are without limit. It's going to be a very, very select audience who best appreciates this, yet for those who can, 'Without name' is kind of brilliant.
Dialogue is mostly vague and indistinct, not least as characters speak airily of some imprecise philosophical profundities, and if possible the scene writing and characters are even more fuzzy. That Alan McKenna's protagonist mostly mumbles and frowns his way through the picture is contrasted with the more typical comportment and delivery of the sparing supporting characters, but even they seem like mere approximations of people. In addition to some of the loftier dialogue, there are a few scenes that would seem to impart some specific, concrete through-line to the course of events as characters have strange experiences with, in, among, or of flora, yet given the hazy nature of the writing here at large, it's not unreasonable to question all the while if these have just been projections of a viewer who is reading too much into what unfolds before us. So it is as well for what is clearly mindful and purposeful (and, one way or another, finely executed) cinematography, editing, and effects. How intentional is all this amorphousness?
There is, at length, a definite narrative that gradually crystallizes in the last third. Abstruse themes present of the power of nature, and surrender to it whether by will or coercion. As Eric's abnormal time in the forest reaches its zenith over these ninety minutes, a pointedly broken sense of reality emerges, and it's evident that 'Without name' has aimed to be an extremely underhanded approach toward psychological horror by way of art film pretensions and a very (welcome) ecologically-friendly perspective on the world. The pay-off is long, slow, and quiet, but delicious, like subtle flavors in the bouquet of a glass of wine that manifest at the tail end of a sip and linger thereafter. For all the emphatic nuance, intelligence, and hard work that went into this feature I can only commend filmmaker Lorcan Finnegan, screenwriter Garret Shanley, and those contributing from behind the scenes. The filming location itself is truly gorgeous, and so uniquely paramount in the production that I almost wonder if the forest shouldn't have gotten a producer credit. The result of all this is a picture that is ultimately as entrancing as it is murky and almost abstract - and, I would wager, very likely to inspire feelings of hate in many who might watch it.
Do any of these words make sense? Have I wandered into the same nebulous territory of shapelessness as much of Shanley's screenplay would superficially seem to? In fairness, for those who engage with 'Without name' and come out the other end liking it, I don't know how one could speak at length of it without adopting the same affectations. There's at once so much and so little going on here; a title bursting with genius and life, yet shoving all of it into the smallest possible corner; a marvel, and a bore. I love it for exactly what it is, and also wish it maybe possessed just the slightest bit more clarity or definition. Does this sound like the type of movie you enjoy? If yes, then step right up; if not, your options are without limit. It's going to be a very, very select audience who best appreciates this, yet for those who can, 'Without name' is kind of brilliant.
Just nothing happening here.
frankblack-7996118 January 2021
Worst movie ever
beckncruz21 October 2022
This movie is the most pointless and annoyingly dragged out one I've seen! There is no plot whatsoever! The first half hour you are trying to figure out what is actually going on in the story or with the characters and so much wasted time on silent scenes that go nowhere for a crazy long time with no actual content to the story. If you take out the overly exaggerated and overplayed shots of the same exact boring thing for longer than a pause should take, or the ridiculously overdone flashing light scenes, and the times when absolutely nothing is happening, the movie would be done in 5 minutes. I should have turned it off after the first 5 minutes when I originally wanted to.
Reality and Dreams Merge
Blue-Grotto19 March 2017
The natural world, with its serenity and stillness, brings comfort for many. For Eric, a land surveyor who heads to the woods solely to escape a shattered marriage, it brings something else. Summoned by a mysterious client to a cabin far from the concrete dullness of his suburban home, Eric eagerly awaits the arrival of Olivia who is both surveying partner and mistress. Olivia encourages Eric to live his dreams, yet he is a man who has none. Within the mist and moss covered forest, shadows intrude. The stillness combined with obtrusive locals, unsettle something in Eric's psyche.
Without Name immerses the audience in a surreal world filled with spectral auras and tones. The forest alternately glows and darkens, appearing like a dance floor where possibilities brighten in the flickering light, then dissipate into murkiness again. I love this film theme, where reality and dreams merge together and become indistinguishable from each other. I only wish the dialogue and action sequences were as deep as the film themes. Seen at the Miami International Film Festival.
Without Name immerses the audience in a surreal world filled with spectral auras and tones. The forest alternately glows and darkens, appearing like a dance floor where possibilities brighten in the flickering light, then dissipate into murkiness again. I love this film theme, where reality and dreams merge together and become indistinguishable from each other. I only wish the dialogue and action sequences were as deep as the film themes. Seen at the Miami International Film Festival.
Great scenery and photography are the only good things about this movie
mcmichael_devin21 December 2019
This movie has some amazing shots of the forest and the dark gloomy environment that the cottage is surrounded by. Other than that, this movie was a waste of time. It is extremely slow paced and the dialogue was subpar. I've seen some reviews mention that the slow burn helps intensify horror movies like this, but I disagree because this movie is not a horror. I'm not sure what genre it is exactly but I'd say it's closer to a psychological thriller than horror. That makes the fact that NOTHING HAPPENS/IS EXPLAINED even worse. The plot essentially begins with something mystical going on in these woods and ends without expanding on the thought. The movie ends without explaining what is going, how it's happening or why. The ending is also extremely predictable after 3/4 of it if you pay attention. This was very disappointing
NOTHING happens!
flufftafem12 September 2019
Don't waste your time
RobotBearUprising30 July 2019
The movie is slow. Slow and without any purpose or direction which means you won't even get a satisfactory end if you do decide to torturously watch it till the end. Actually thats the horror there. Sitting through the entire movie. Only watch if you have run out of anything to do with your life.
prepare to spend 40 minutes watching slow zooms into trees
jaccz12 April 2021
I could be an artsy filmmaker too i didnt know all it takes is slowly zooming into a tree or moss or grass every 5 minutes. Seemed interesting until about halfway or more in when you realize its not going anywhere and has no purpose or plot. Seemed very obnoxious and snobby with its overly tryhard attempt at artsy scenes and shots, with no plot or anything good that makes a movie.
It's ok to have playing in the background while you do other stuff since theres little to no dialog, just slow zoom-ins and slow zoom-outs. If you're paying attention to it, keep your finger on the skip button unless you enjoy staring at unmoving pointless pictures for minutes on end.
Plus the movie is so lame they don't even have a climax and instead replace it with flashing strobe lights as a cheap gimmick.
TLDR- its only a good film if you forgot what trees look like!
It's ok to have playing in the background while you do other stuff since theres little to no dialog, just slow zoom-ins and slow zoom-outs. If you're paying attention to it, keep your finger on the skip button unless you enjoy staring at unmoving pointless pictures for minutes on end.
Plus the movie is so lame they don't even have a climax and instead replace it with flashing strobe lights as a cheap gimmick.
TLDR- its only a good film if you forgot what trees look like!
Without story.
parry_na12 June 2021
Very slow, perhaps too slow to begin with, this is nevertheless an immersive experience. This is due to a combination of things - the acting, the incredible scenery and the eerie sound design.
There is, however, virtually no story. This is an uneventful film with a lacklustre ending, heightened by very good acting and terrific direction and cinematography. Filmed in Ireland, it is bound to look great - and it does - but the overall feeling I had at the end was ... what? My score is 4 out of 10.
There is, however, virtually no story. This is an uneventful film with a lacklustre ending, heightened by very good acting and terrific direction and cinematography. Filmed in Ireland, it is bound to look great - and it does - but the overall feeling I had at the end was ... what? My score is 4 out of 10.
A slow-burn horror movie about a cursed forest:
antoniokowatsch19 May 2018
"Without Name" is one of those movies that I really didn't like at first glance. It was too intellectual and much too slow for my personal taste when I first watched it. But after a while I kept revisiting it because of its unique nature. It's a rather slow-paced horror movie and has its focus set on the supernatural.
The protagonist is a land-surveyor with a troubled marriage. The beginning of the movie is quite mundane and tries to showcase that the protagonist is just a regular guy who's doing his thing. But things change when he's sent on a special assignment. Without spoiling too much; he's supposed to measure a property that's located in a forest. But not just any forest; the one that the locals call "Goanim" (which is Welsh for "Without Name"). There are many myths about the forest and people claim that it's cursed but the protagonist doesn't seem to think much of it, initially.
As for the execution: the movie is deliberately slowed down to intensify the suspense of the horror. And I have to say, even though I criticized the pacing when I first watched it; it does work quite well in hindsight. We as the viewers know that things will eventually take a turn for the worse but we're never quite sure when. And that's ultimately where the movie shines. It manages to be terrifying because it's exploiting the most primal form of fear; the fear of the unknown. We don't know when things'll go south and we never really get to see the ghost. And yet it's evil presence is pervasive throughout the movie. Like a shadow, looming over the the protagonist's head. It's really reminiscent of the movie "It Follows" in terms of the flair. Do you know the feeling that you get when you think you're being watched? That's kind of the best way to describe this movie. It has that type of aura because the protagonist spends most of his time in the forest; feeling like he's being watched without being 100% certain about it. Doubts fester and his sanity degrades perpetually. The psychological tension is almost palpable.
To conclude: I really like this movie because it's so unique. There is no other horror movie quite like it. With that being said; it's also its biggest downside. If you don't like slow-paced movies this is probably not the movie for you. I mean, it's literally on the extreme end of the spectrum (on the slow end).
Final verdict: recommended (if you have the patience for it)
As for the execution: the movie is deliberately slowed down to intensify the suspense of the horror. And I have to say, even though I criticized the pacing when I first watched it; it does work quite well in hindsight. We as the viewers know that things will eventually take a turn for the worse but we're never quite sure when. And that's ultimately where the movie shines. It manages to be terrifying because it's exploiting the most primal form of fear; the fear of the unknown. We don't know when things'll go south and we never really get to see the ghost. And yet it's evil presence is pervasive throughout the movie. Like a shadow, looming over the the protagonist's head. It's really reminiscent of the movie "It Follows" in terms of the flair. Do you know the feeling that you get when you think you're being watched? That's kind of the best way to describe this movie. It has that type of aura because the protagonist spends most of his time in the forest; feeling like he's being watched without being 100% certain about it. Doubts fester and his sanity degrades perpetually. The psychological tension is almost palpable.
To conclude: I really like this movie because it's so unique. There is no other horror movie quite like it. With that being said; it's also its biggest downside. If you don't like slow-paced movies this is probably not the movie for you. I mean, it's literally on the extreme end of the spectrum (on the slow end).
Final verdict: recommended (if you have the patience for it)
Stylish and interesting.
fedor821 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
One of those slow-paced horror films that have zombies pulling their hair out. This is the polar opposite of what the torture-po$n crowd wants from a movie. They don't want mystery, a story, good dialog, proper characterization - and a total lack of gore.
No splatter-butchering tore-limbs rivers of blood whatsoever here. This is every torture-po$n fan's worst nightmare: real people in unusual situations. (They prefer absurd people in totally contrived situations.) The only "unusual" situations a torture-po$n dweeb wants and understands is when an innocent tourist family find themselves in the middle of a huge shredder, observing their legs get cut into tiny pieces - while the torture fan finishes in their pants, stuff dripping down on his Coke cans lying around on the floor. A LACK of extreme violence repulses them. They don't want to be forced to use their unusable grey cells, they want pure unadulterated deprivation and sadism. As simple as possible, with a plot that even a lower-tier plankton can comprehend. When other people experience great pain - is their joy. The screams of a murdering hillbilly's victims is like a ballad to their monkey ears.
This is no such film.
Granted, there are many slow-paced horror films that absolutely stink, but those are the ones with a boring premise, and/or a lack of style, and/or lacking a proper soundtrack and camerawork required for such a film. Building a mood isn't easy, it requires effort and skill. Money, too.
A psychological drama is what this is, with strong horror overtones. The build-up is interesting, the score is very good (especially the tunes in the 6th and 86th minutes), the cast is competent, the dialog very solid, and the setting nice. A pretty, charismatic blonde helps a lot too, I admit. Niamh Algar (the brunette lead in "Censor") is the one I'm referring to. Yeah, being called "Niamh" is a bummer for her, but if she plays her cards right (and by that I don't mean weinsteining her way through) she could have a very good career. Of course, that also depends on luck, plus whether there are enough non-morons in the film industry to recognize her potential.
Did I understand the ending? No. But that's OK, because the movie never bored me, nor annoyed me, nor did I particularly expect to get answers, because I surmised that this wasn't that kind of film. There is a (small) possibility that Eric had split up into two: the part of him that joined the plant-life, and the physical part of him that ended up in a loony bin, along with his predecessor who had the same fate. This would explain him watching his family, friends and cops lead a searching party in the woods. I don't believe he was literally hiding, but that he was already assimilated into the forest. This is, perhaps, why there are two of them at the same time: one in the forest, "hiding" from the people, the other in the house, a shell of his former self.
Does he seem happy? Not really. This isn't some tree-hugging fable of a "man who becomes one with nature", a glorious state of bliss and contentment that hippies have been fantasizing about ever since the first joint was rolled. Eric appears distraught in the final scene, i.e. Perhaps the forest did a number on him, as a way to defend itself from being turned into a tourist resort, a factory, or whatever it was this land surveyor was sent for.
No splatter-butchering tore-limbs rivers of blood whatsoever here. This is every torture-po$n fan's worst nightmare: real people in unusual situations. (They prefer absurd people in totally contrived situations.) The only "unusual" situations a torture-po$n dweeb wants and understands is when an innocent tourist family find themselves in the middle of a huge shredder, observing their legs get cut into tiny pieces - while the torture fan finishes in their pants, stuff dripping down on his Coke cans lying around on the floor. A LACK of extreme violence repulses them. They don't want to be forced to use their unusable grey cells, they want pure unadulterated deprivation and sadism. As simple as possible, with a plot that even a lower-tier plankton can comprehend. When other people experience great pain - is their joy. The screams of a murdering hillbilly's victims is like a ballad to their monkey ears.
This is no such film.
Granted, there are many slow-paced horror films that absolutely stink, but those are the ones with a boring premise, and/or a lack of style, and/or lacking a proper soundtrack and camerawork required for such a film. Building a mood isn't easy, it requires effort and skill. Money, too.
A psychological drama is what this is, with strong horror overtones. The build-up is interesting, the score is very good (especially the tunes in the 6th and 86th minutes), the cast is competent, the dialog very solid, and the setting nice. A pretty, charismatic blonde helps a lot too, I admit. Niamh Algar (the brunette lead in "Censor") is the one I'm referring to. Yeah, being called "Niamh" is a bummer for her, but if she plays her cards right (and by that I don't mean weinsteining her way through) she could have a very good career. Of course, that also depends on luck, plus whether there are enough non-morons in the film industry to recognize her potential.
Did I understand the ending? No. But that's OK, because the movie never bored me, nor annoyed me, nor did I particularly expect to get answers, because I surmised that this wasn't that kind of film. There is a (small) possibility that Eric had split up into two: the part of him that joined the plant-life, and the physical part of him that ended up in a loony bin, along with his predecessor who had the same fate. This would explain him watching his family, friends and cops lead a searching party in the woods. I don't believe he was literally hiding, but that he was already assimilated into the forest. This is, perhaps, why there are two of them at the same time: one in the forest, "hiding" from the people, the other in the house, a shell of his former self.
Does he seem happy? Not really. This isn't some tree-hugging fable of a "man who becomes one with nature", a glorious state of bliss and contentment that hippies have been fantasizing about ever since the first joint was rolled. Eric appears distraught in the final scene, i.e. Perhaps the forest did a number on him, as a way to defend itself from being turned into a tourist resort, a factory, or whatever it was this land surveyor was sent for.
This Is Why You Don't Do Drugs Danny.
wandernn1-81-68327424 January 2021
Okay so this one sorta reminded me of Peter Fonda's , The Trip. A professor doing some sort of Forest research takes some drugs and flips out and starts seeing weird stuff in the woods. Was there ever really anything dangerous out there? Who the hell knows really. But you delivered a WEIRD ride along the way. Overall though, I was not impressed. 4/10
I'm now a certified surveyor.
andyhilton-970-32277411 August 2021
I can think of a few names!
xmasdaybaby19664 October 2021
I came across Niamh Algar recently in the excellent The Virtues. I was enamoured with her that I have been checking out her back catalogue.
She did some other great shows around that time in Pure, The Bisexual, Calm With Horses and Motherfatherson.
Unfortunately, with the exception of the crime series Deceit, her more recent roles have been lacking in Raised By Wolves (how on earth are they doing a second series?), Wrath Of Man and the poor horror film Censor.
When i found this horror film from just before her pomp, I had to give it a go but, oh dear; it really is awful.
Apart from flashing her legs while sitting in a wall waiting for Eric, this was 89 minutes of nothing.
The star of the show is the collie dog (Juro even gets a credit!).
The closing music is tense and eerie but the film was far from it.
It was nice to see Niamh in a more feminine role but that was it Ok, she was only a support actor but apart from those hypnotic blue eyes, there is nothing else write about.
I am off for a laugh with The Last Right and then back to From The Dark as my Niamh binge nears its end.
I hope these films won't disappoint as this did.
She did some other great shows around that time in Pure, The Bisexual, Calm With Horses and Motherfatherson.
Unfortunately, with the exception of the crime series Deceit, her more recent roles have been lacking in Raised By Wolves (how on earth are they doing a second series?), Wrath Of Man and the poor horror film Censor.
When i found this horror film from just before her pomp, I had to give it a go but, oh dear; it really is awful.
Apart from flashing her legs while sitting in a wall waiting for Eric, this was 89 minutes of nothing.
The star of the show is the collie dog (Juro even gets a credit!).
The closing music is tense and eerie but the film was far from it.
It was nice to see Niamh in a more feminine role but that was it Ok, she was only a support actor but apart from those hypnotic blue eyes, there is nothing else write about.
I am off for a laugh with The Last Right and then back to From The Dark as my Niamh binge nears its end.
I hope these films won't disappoint as this did.
Irish Folk Horror
Pairic22 June 2020
Without Name: Irish Folk Horror. A land surveyor works in eerie woods in a gully on the side of a mountain. He spots a strange silhouette as does the student who arrives to help him. His marriage is strained as is his affair with the student. Things get more complicated when they hang out with a magic mushroom munching crustie.
But the mushrooms are not responsible for all the weirdness as people get lost both physically and spiritually in the woods. A true sense of Panic is aroused at times.
Top tip: never ask for an IPA in a mountainside pub in rural Ireland. 8/10.
But the mushrooms are not responsible for all the weirdness as people get lost both physically and spiritually in the woods. A true sense of Panic is aroused at times.
Top tip: never ask for an IPA in a mountainside pub in rural Ireland. 8/10.
Atmospheric
ladymidath30 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Without name is a solid horror that explores the fear that can come with isolation and the mind playing tricks, especially when magic mushrooms are involved. Without Name is a genuinely creepy movie that builds atmosphere without the usual blood and guts that so many horror movies seem to resort to. The acting is solid and the music really helps built the tension. The photography is absolutely gorgeous but really manages to convey the feeling of menace.
The only problem, and it's not a big one, is that it's very slow and does meander somewhat. I do understand that the story is taking it's time to set up what's to come, but after a while I just wanted it to get to the meat of the story. But like I said, it's a small nitpick. Overall I would recommend it to people who like their horror films a little more cerebral. One thing though, there is a warning at the beginning that there are bright strobing lights that could induce seizures, be careful because there are a few scenes where the strobing lights are really strong.
The only problem, and it's not a big one, is that it's very slow and does meander somewhat. I do understand that the story is taking it's time to set up what's to come, but after a while I just wanted it to get to the meat of the story. But like I said, it's a small nitpick. Overall I would recommend it to people who like their horror films a little more cerebral. One thing though, there is a warning at the beginning that there are bright strobing lights that could induce seizures, be careful because there are a few scenes where the strobing lights are really strong.
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