What exactly can I say about FRITT VILT that hasn't been said already. Well for starters, in a world overdosed on allegedly scary slasher movies this Norwegian film actually delivers with a terrifying atmosphere and genuine suspense. It's an old and tried storyline, take five teenagers and place them in an isolated location, this being a long abandoned hotel with a violent killer on the loose inside. However, what differentiates FRITT VILT from the rest of the pack is it's sharp direction by Roar Uthaug who manages to keep the same old clichés of the genre interesting. He does this mainly through the characters. Here we have five friends who emote a sincere affection for each other and for this reason we grow to like them. Unlike most other slasher movies where the characters are cardboard cut-outs simply used to increase the body-count and showcase gory effects these characters drive the story along and all have a purpose within the movie that serves the plot. So when we watch them die it becomes upsetting and genuinely disturbing. In particular the first murder is increasingly harrowing and while watching I felt a terrible pity for the person. Another reason it succeeds is the fluid cinematography by Daniel Voldheim who paints each shot with atmospheric lighting and shadow so the darker scenes generate true claustrophobia and tension. The soundtrack by Magnus Beite is wonderfully haunting, moving and terrifying while the performances by all involved are incredibly accurate, particularly Ingrid Bolso Berdal as Jannicke who provides a compassionate heroine whom we quickly grow to love and in the end we truly feel her anguish and pain. This is an outstanding movie within the slasher genre and a sterling example of Norwegian horror.
