Ghostland

Ein intensiver freak house Alptraum. Trauer und menschlichere Emotionen bewältigt Laugier nicht so richtig und wahrscheinlich wird es ihm auch nie gelingen. Hier hat er es wenigstens geschafft, die für ihn typische Ultragewalt und den grauenhaften Ekel mit einer Verflechtung von Traum und Realität zu verbinden und mit einer befreienden Flucht in die Imagination. Es ergibt nicht immer Sinn, schließlich wird daraus aber ein wirkungsvolles Puzzle, in dem (Gott sei dank) die schlimmsten Traumata aus der Vergangenheit, die man sich vorstellen kann, eine Linderung erfahren. Das betrifft auch die gestressten Zuschauer*innen (am Morgen als der erste von fünf ähnlichen Filmen des Tages ist es ein ziemlicher Hardcore-Wecker). [Sitges FF] (07.10.2018)

Excellent narrative pirouette and a really intense madhouse! I trusted Laugier, but since the film wasn’t preceded by the hype of a big horror event (like this year’s A Quiet Place or the upcoming Hereditary), I was expecting less. And maybe thanks to that I ended up pleasantly surprised. Ghostland lacks the philosophical layers of Martyrs, which established Laugier, but it certainly delivers more horror satisfaction than The Tall Man. A decade ago we were used to this breed of films, but they stepped into the background in such way that today they can feel like a breath of fresh air again. Finally a horror action film that is unleashed and hurts! The action puts the character through such things that you believe that they are deeply traumatising them, and their hysteria doesn’t surprise you. All this, moreover, wrapped in first-class technical form, taking place in the interiors of a magnificent horror cabin, and made special by a narrative structure that makes sense (though I can imagine that it can be self-evident for some). Applause. (11.06.2018)

Pascal Laugier is simply great. At first he catches our attention with the H. P. Lovecraft reference, and then starts such a brutal gore ride that I had to do my best not to shit my pants with fear. In its own way, Ghostland is brilliant. True, it contains a lot of self—serving violence and is in its core very simple, but it also has a certain style and works surprisingly well despite the mentioned flaws. A raw hard-core horror where I didn’t mind the simple premise, an occasional overcontrivedness and logical lapses at moments where reality blends with dreams, but I enjoyed all of it as part of the movie. (28.12.2018)

Pascal Laugier, the director of Martyrs, is on a rampage again this year! After a long hiatus, the French are waking up and a new French Wave may be starting! This year they surprised with the stylish Revenge and now they are rocking with Ghostland, so thumbs up. Ghostland is an unpleasant, evil, psychological emotional nightmare that simmers for almost the entire film. Not much can be written about the story without spoilers, but it's important to mention that the film can seem confusing at times and you need to use your brain. The beautiful Crystal Reed excels in the lead role, I have grown to love her in the series Gotham, so all her agony made me sympathize with her far more than I should have. A big plus are the deranged bad guys, especially the giant hulk who reminded me of the wrestler Glenn Jacobs, who starred in See no Evil and made me feel really uncomfortable. Another big plus is the setting of the old house, with its creepy dolls as decoration, which creates a great horror atmosphere. The action, the chases, the screaming, the violence, the physical and psychological terror throughout the film makes Ghostland a very intense spectacle that will be at least in the top 3 this year. If Pascal had gone a bit further with the gore, it would be a clear number one for me. Still, an excellent experience. After the second screening I'm upping it to a full score. The experience is more intense. 85%. (12.06.2018)