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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Irreversible did exactly this. I remember feeling utterly traumatised after the first act and bereft of hope after the final.
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It's on my list. Looks really gruelling.
Can't recommend Under the Shadow enough, for similar reasons.