PopHorror Let's Get Scared
When it comes to Serbia I will be the first to admit that I don’t know as much as I would like to about their film industry – with the exception of the obvious: A Serbian Film. When the opportunity to review Nikola Petrovic’s (Dogs Die Alone) folk horror film Mudbrick came up, I jumped at it.
Synopsis
After inheriting an old mudbrick house in his home village in Eastern Europe, a man returns after spending his whole life in England, only to find out that inhabitants are hiding a dark secret about the pagan Slavic cult and his own past.
Paul (Philip Brodie – Unlocked), hair parted and dressed in impeccable clothing, arrives in a tiny Serbian town to see his inherited house. His half brother’s family is less than thrilled to see him. Paul’s half brother Jakov (Andrew Howard – Taken 3) is obsessed with the idea that the Nav (the souls of the dead) will come again and again for his family. Unless they off up the ultimate sacrifice.
Let me start by saying that this film is just gorgeous. I loved how the director relied on the daylight scenes to provide the most sinister elements instead of the night scenes. The talented Andrew Howard was brilliant in his role as Jakov – a rough, grizzled opposite of his brother. Jakov clings to his land, the gods, and the old ways for survival. The land the brothers are fighting over is destined to remain cursed in some form until someone stops the cycle of violence.
To fully appreciate this film, it helps (but isn’t a dealbreaker) to learn a little about Slavic folklore ahead of time as well as some history of violence in the Balkan region.
This is a must see for anyone who enjoys foreign horror, cults, or slow burn horror. I can’t wait to see what this director comes up with next!
