PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Modern horror films are using heightened environments to elicit scares and tension, often by taking away the basic human abilities or senses of the characters. Whether it’s sight, hearing, or the ability to speak, the loss of a skill that we take for granted could really make survival an even tougher endeavor. Such is the case in Azrael, a dystopian post-rapture horror action film about a village of followers who have cut out their tongues because they believe words are sins. Let’s dive into this story and see how Azrael stacks up in 2024’s horror lineup.
Azrael is written by Simon Barrett (The Guest 2014) and directed by E.L. Katz (Cheap Thrills 2013). It stars Samara Weaving (Ready Or Not 2019, read our review here), and Vic Carmen Sonne (Holiday 2018). It’s under IFC Films distribution, but it feels very much like an A24 style of movie. With the characters using no words, we rely on the talented cast to convey their emotions between breath, movement, and facial expressions, which they do
wonderfully.
The environment and cinematography are the aces in Azrael. The location chosen for the community and wooded areas in the movie are hauntingly scenic, and the camera uses slow dolly-in shots to make the audience look behind every branch. This aids in taking us on the character of Azrael’s journey, as Weavings’ strength and vulnerability make you feel every step she takes.
While the imagery in Azrael is stunning, a lot of the allegory is lost in the mystery. Some of the audience will feel like they’re sitting through double the runtime of the film, as the quiet nature of the story grows a bit tiresome. The creatures and gore are beautiful, even if our exposure to them is too few and far in between. But genre fans who enjoy Weaving in the final girl archetype will find some nice tension and technical prowess.
Azrael is currently streaming on Shudder.
