The innocent | Terrible children ★★★½

One summer, four children discover amazing powers and play at testing their limits, far from the gaze of adults. But what seemed like child’s play, gradually takes a disturbing turn…

What’s more scary in the movies than a naughty child? She’s the poor little girl possessed by The Exorcistthe vile Damien of The Omen or the blonde faces of Village of the Damned. Figures as angelic as they are disturbing which have nothing to envy to those of innocentthe most recent genre film by Eskil Vogt (Blind), who is best known for having co-scripted all of Joachim Trier’s creations.

Here he is presenting his own version of the Fantastic Four which would be reviewed and corrected by the M. Night Shyamalan of the good old days. A dive into an imaginary which redefines the fact of believing in the marvelous and which forces the film buff to question the very innocence of its young heroes. Why would the latter be satisfied with telekinesis or the fact of being able to give voice to a non-verbal autistic person if they can, during a simple anger, jeopardize the very existence of those around them? Is this age of empathy or violence?

Behaviors that quickly lead to a multitude of moral questions about Good and Evil, about these often unhealthy children’s games. Especially since the scenario, particularly subversive, does not skimp on physical and psychological cruelty, instilling an ambiguity that is welcome. There is something of Michael Haneke in this climate of unease that sets in, contaminating the acting of the young actors, all of whom are excellent in mischievous and unfriendly roles. Some sequences are so twisted that nervous laughter mixes with dread and repulsion.

Glacial to the point of causing discomfort, the story deploys a heavy tension that acts muted at first, before gradually tightening on the viewer. Despite the presence of certain clichés linked to the use of shadows and sound effects, the tense and insidious atmosphere reinforces the feeling of loneliness, already maximized by the slow rhythm and the superb photography which delights in filming dark and deserted places. .

Thin streaks of light, however, eventually pierce through this dark nightmare that will keep many awake late into the night. No, we will no longer see his offspring in the same way.

thriller

Innocents

Eskil Vogt

With Rakel Lenora Flottum, Alva Brynsmo Ramstad, Sam Ashraf

1:57 a.m.

★★★½