Psalm 21 is an atypical brooding Swedish drama about childhood trauma and stoic conversations about god which flirts with the possessed demon film. It is a competent slice of euro-horror that shocks as much as it bores.
There are a lot of people in emotional pain in this film, but it is well acted and written enough to not feel exploitative amongst all the Exorcist genre tropes. The genre influence on Psalm 21 feels more like something to get the film sold more than anything else. It is implemented quite well into the actual story of the film and works on a symbolic basis and i'm left thinking why bother? If you're going to use this genre, have a little bit more conviction.
Though the genre tropes are the film's weakest points, in which they feel crowbarred in and are punctuated with cliched music cues and CGI designs, the heavy drama does not fair all that well either.
Psalm 21 is a very confused film. It does not know what it is trying to say and has many tone jarring scenes moments from a seduction scene to confessions motivated by potential axe murder to a final monologue that leaves the film on a much bewildering note. At least it was consistent.
In conclusion, Psalm 21 has some good moments, but they are cheapened by the film's overall lack of conviction. It pulls back and forth from Exorcist rip off to super serious family drama. It's atypical European genre fare; high lofty ambitions, wonky execution. Everyone will most likely feel confused coming out of this, but if you're looking for a very opaque and mostly unpredictable horror film, then Psalm 21 might be for you.
There are a lot of people in emotional pain in this film, but it is well acted and written enough to not feel exploitative amongst all the Exorcist genre tropes. The genre influence on Psalm 21 feels more like something to get the film sold more than anything else. It is implemented quite well into the actual story of the film and works on a symbolic basis and i'm left thinking why bother? If you're going to use this genre, have a little bit more conviction.
Though the genre tropes are the film's weakest points, in which they feel crowbarred in and are punctuated with cliched music cues and CGI designs, the heavy drama does not fair all that well either.
Psalm 21 is a very confused film. It does not know what it is trying to say and has many tone jarring scenes moments from a seduction scene to confessions motivated by potential axe murder to a final monologue that leaves the film on a much bewildering note. At least it was consistent.
In conclusion, Psalm 21 has some good moments, but they are cheapened by the film's overall lack of conviction. It pulls back and forth from Exorcist rip off to super serious family drama. It's atypical European genre fare; high lofty ambitions, wonky execution. Everyone will most likely feel confused coming out of this, but if you're looking for a very opaque and mostly unpredictable horror film, then Psalm 21 might be for you.