The Unthinkable

Fast bis zum letzten Moment weiß man nicht, was genau und durch wen im Film passiert. Die allmähliche Eskalierung der ernsthaften Lage und die perfekt und realistisch aufgenommenen Action- und Katastrophenszenen steigern die Spannung und die Angst. Gleichzeitig ist es durchdacht und detailliert. Es gibt auch eine genügende (auch wenn keine perfekte) Gefühlsdimension von der Beziehung des Haupthelden zu der Liebe seines Lebens sowie seinem Vater. Ein sehr schönes Ende, ihr Teenager, ihr solltet daraus eine Lehre ziehen. Und alle anderen sollten Acht geben, dies ist die realistischste Filmdarstellung einer ähnlichen Drohung, welche es heutzutage geben könnte. [Sitges FF] (11.10.2018)

The Swedes deliver a solid mix of genres and if it wasn't for the slow first half, it would be a blast. The first forty minutes are really excruciatingly slow and I think a few viewers will give up on the film. There are some pretty unlikeable characters so it's a bit odd to watch, but then it's like the director changes and some very shocking and eye pleasing stuff happens, mixing the catastrophe genre with thriller and mystery. The Swedes have made a really brave piece where unpleasant things happen, but they don't reveal the cause of the threat, which makes it original, and I think with the last shot they risk a world war. Anyway, visually the film is shot very capably, the music is reminiscent of Hans Zimmer, the action is very realistic and there is unexpectedly a lot of it (dead birds falling from the sky, numerous crashes, falling helicopters, a power plant explosion, one very solid fight, and a gritty grand finale). It's also nicely suspenseful and the atmosphere works, exploiting the viewer's uncertainty, so there are many elements to praise. Just a pity about the first half which slightly spoils the impression. Still, an admirable achievement. 75% (08.11.2018)

Other than the three or four WTF moments associated with the activities of Alex's father, who could easily be cast in a Hollywood action blockbuster (twenty such individuals would probably save the Swedish army some work and stop a foreign invasion), I'm giving the film a strong review after careful consideration. It has an undeniable atmosphere, works with a realistic scenario of the origin of a war conflict in 21st-century European space, and does not lack in its production design. It cunningly doses information, starting from the description of everyday work and human relationships, through disturbing hints of an unknown threat, to eventually turning into a hectic fight for life. It also has quality cinematography and a suggestive dark soundtrack. The director knows what he wants and how to achieve it. True, the father is a paranoid lunatic (the film ultimately proves that being paranoid doesn't mean that they are not after you) and the son is a self-conscious introvert, but at first glance, the main characters, who are hard to accept, do not bother me. Mainstream commercial filmmaking would, of course, work with protagonists that you easily identify with and fall in love with, but this film's bet on outsiders only accentuates the audacity and unpredictability of Danel's film. However, I do have one thing to say about the end of the film. World cinema usually deals with similar simulations of conflicts in the style of: on Friday, we were attacked and beaten up, on Saturday, we repelled the blow and paid off our losses with interest, only to hastily restore electricity, revive television broadcasting, and in the evening sit down to watch our favorite soap opera. But in this film, it wouldn't work, and it would only mark the beginning of a very dark and bloody period. Overall impression: 85%. (05.02.2022)

Eine glaubwürdige und eisige Darstellung davon, wie Verschwörungen und Angriffe auf das Volk (ich möchte nicht verraten, von wem und warum) mit qualitativ hochwertiger Spannung, soliden Effekten und einer funktionierenden dramatischen Handlung über eine zerrüttete Familie ablaufen könnten. Mich hat nur leicht gestört, dass die Charaktere in den Momenten, in denen sie am meisten zusammenhalten sollten, immer wieder alte Missstände und familiäre Traumata hervorholen und damit die nötige Zusammenarbeit sabotieren und sich selbst Steine in den Weg legen - vielleicht ist dies eine Metapher dafür, dass Schweden in Krisenzeiten nicht in der Lage ist, zusammenzuhalten, vielleicht. In jedem Fall ist The Unthinkable eine solide, eisige und einfallsreiche Show ohne eindeutige Helden und Verlierer, aber mit einer eindeutigen politischen Botschaft. (19.10.2018)