Despite some minor flaws, Under the Shadow is easily the best horror I've seen this year - and I've been fortunate with my choices this year.
The strongest point is the oppressive atmosphere, which never lets up. It's harrowing.
Pretty amazing that it's the director's first.
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A technique that's severely underused in horror (and used well here) is matter of fact, stylized delivery.
Minimal use of music, stingers and so on - just blunt trauma.
Thrillers often do this with violence, and it succeeds in making it both more visceral and less fetishized.
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I wish the film sharpened this further.
As is, the first act slowly drags you down into the dark, the middle act suffocates you and shutters away the last glimpses of light.
The final act, while strong, occasionally jumps the shark. Still very solid, though.
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Think I'll just suck it up and write a full length review. I keep finding more things to praise.
Reason is pretty clear: horror usually doesn't make me feel uncomfortable anymore, at all, but this film did - in spades.