Fair warning -- if you read basically anything about this movie anywhere on the internet, it is likely to ruin the big surprise. That would be sad, because I was shocked and morbidly delighted when I realized what this movie was going to be about.

I really enjoyed this grungy little horror mashup about two asshole friends who move into a suspiciously cheap New York apartment, only to discover that there is something terribly wrong with their new home. It's basically an un-subtle riff on Polanski, Argento, Zulawski, Kubrick, and maybe a little mumblecore too.

For my money, it's modern exploitation done right, with lots of weirdness, lots of sex and violence, and a cheerful disregard for good taste. It's very much a "movie of the moment" in a way that's sorta rare nowadays, and its depiction of modern life -- as it's lived by a couple of lazy, privileged shitheads, anyway -- is enjoyably familiar. It's an unlikeable movie about unlikeable people, which is the sort of thing I really like.

It's far from a perfect movie, but it's daring and gung-ho enough to feel special, and all-in on its hilariously offensive premise (which, again, I won't ruin). It's not scary at all, but it is very funny, and instead of horror it balances its somewhat shaggy mumblecore elements with a good bit of feverish intensity later on, including an attempt to out-Possession Isabelle Adjani (unsuccessful but admirable).

But I cannot overstate this -- unless what I've described specifically sounds attractive to you, you are unlikely to like this movie.

Plus the poster is badass.

Definitely going to check this out.

Even with the influences mentioned it sounds pretty original.

I like the sound of this. Poster looks remarkably old school. The use of the mirror/picture frame reminds me of Don't Look Now. Streaming?

Quoted Text an attempt to out-Possession Isabelle Adjani (unsuccessful but admirable)

Ha! Can't be done. They tried in Climax too. Not to say someone can't belt out a horrifying, bombastic freakout, but everyone knows when it's supposed to be like Adjani.

EDIT: Just realized I've actually heard of this before. Directed by Dasha Nekrasova from Succession, the Red Scare podcast (not familiar, but apparently what she's most known for), and the cosplay sailor girl from that one viral Info Wars clip. Unfortunately, that means I know the plot, which does sound like something to keep under wraps. Still intrigued though.

I don't know what to make of this.

Right off the bat, the acting and dialogue are atrocious. The characters are all some degree of unlikeable. I spent a lot of time asking myself if any of it was supposed to be a joke -- and if so, a joke on what? Horror movies? Conspiracy theorists? Or maybe just jokey in that "we don't take our movie seriously, so who cares if it's bad?" way you see in Eli Roth films or Midsommar for instance. Everything that's bad is similarly bad in this weirdly distinct way where I'm still genuinely wondering if I'm missing some kind of satire.

This may be due in part to Dasha Nekrasova. Her acting seems almost identical to her character on Succession, but on that show it makes a little more sense. From what little I've heard of Red Scare, she also has a similar demeanor. I can't tell if she's just a bad actor, has some kind of Aubrey Plaza thing going on where she seems like she's trying to be deadpan all the time but actually isn't, or if she's leaning into some type of persona for parody or whatever reason (or some mix of the three). When she starts screaming towards the end of the movie, it starts to feel way more genuine, which leaves me only more confused as to how to parse her performance and, by extension, the film.

The filmmaking is also hit and miss for me. I realize they're going for a vintage style and using actual film and what seems to be old equipment. It all feels pretty focused and deliberate, so I wouldn't knock the filmmaking per se, but there're tons of shots that feel either needlessly tight on the subject or like they have some object obstructing the shot. I've seen this thing before, so I got used to it, but it was very distracting for much of the time.

Totally split on the plot. On the one hand, it's incredibly unique, which means you have no idea where it's going to go. The pacing is pretty consistent and takes its time without ever feeling slow, so the writing is strong in that respect. Things do get pretty extreme and there're a ton of bizarre, not-so-obvious set pieces that get more than a little stomach churning. But eh, sometimes it also feels kinda hokey and topical. Most of the time, I was being distracted by the other elements of the film I've listed above that I didn't get to entirely enjoy the plot playing out, so I don't know how much I can speak to it.

I can't shake the feeling that there might be some kinda snark behind all this that's going over my head. For everything that's bungled or DOA craft-wise, there's something that indicates there's also vision and the competence to execute it at the helm. Could be something meant to be sincere that just didn't work for me for whatever reason. Lots to like, but lots of problems too. I might have to sleep on this one.

EDIT: Started down the rabbit hole of reviews. People definitely seem to think this is funny. I didn't. I guess you could argue it's supposed to be a parody of Internet culture or something (there's even the line "Reddit is for bottom feeders"), but that doesn't appeal to me, and the characters are far too insufferable for me to appreciate it either way. I also think I took the plot too seriously going in, since a lot of folks seem to think it's a gag in and of itself. I knew the plot beforehand, so maybe I wouldn't felt different if I went into this cold.

Still grasping at straws here. I think this might've just gone over my head.

Great review, James! Totally agree with you about all the strange tensions in the movie. I think you're right to link it all to Dasha Nekrasova and her persona -- from everywhere I've encountered her, it just kinda seems like that's what the brand is ("Is she serious or just messing with me?")

This movie felt ambitious to me, and I really liked that -- but at the same time I totally agree with you that it would be just as easy to read it as totally non-ambitious and/or intentionally jokey.