Red Rooms

O filme cativa com a temática sombria do mundo da disseminação de vídeos snuff na dark web e com o processo judicial de um assassino de três raparigas, que gravava a sua «obra» macabra numa câmara. No entanto, nenhum desses aspetos é devidamente explorado e a maior parte do tempo é dedicada à amizade passageira entre duas raparigas estranhas, que participam do julgamento como espetadoras devido à sua fascinação pelo assassino. Não entendo as reações entusiasmadas do filme. Embora seja bem filmado e representado, ele perde completamente todo o potencial do enredo forte. [Sitges FF] (14/10/2023)

Random notes about the dark net, groupies and serial killers mixed haphazardly with the superficial motif of “outwardly beautiful but inwardly monstrous model living in a clinically clean apartment with AI that tells jokes”. The film, which confuses outward effects with profound psychology, unintentionally gives a nod of approval to tabloid fascination with violence and insight into the pathological world with the eclectic alternation of themes, about which it says nothing at all. An empty gesture, horror vacui. (05/07/2023)

An artsy court thriller from Canada! The trial begins for Ludovic Chevalier, who has been convicted of the murders of three young girls, which the sales of snuff videos on the Dark Web, definitely an interesting court case. We watch the film from the point of view of a model-juror who becomes obsessed with the case and starts to be a pretty decent psycho. The courtroom verbal barrages are fine and definitely go a long way to fixing the taste for the awful Anatomy of a Fall, though I wish there was more of the trial. At times the film focuses on stuff that isn't entirely appealing. I loved the conversation of the Dark Web expert, and the ending is captivating with an intense and thrilling poker game with Bitcoins that is one of the highlights of the entire film. It's a shame the snuff scenes are out of focus, but I can see how it wouldn't pass. It probably could have been made darker and more intense, but I'm still happy with this understated thriller, it's definitely worth a watch, but it's not a genre-defining film. 7/10. (03/12/2023)

What fascinates people about serial killers and does close examination of evil also breed evil? The answers to these questions are (not necessarily) given to us through the two female protagonists, whose psychology alternates between childlike naivety and almost devilish mystery and ambiguity. This hypnotic, audiovisually intoxicating thriller about the fascination with human brutality is a powerful genre piece, the likes of which don't make it very often into the competition section at Karlovy Vary. Some scenes (especially the cosplay in the courtroom) are masterfully constructed and I would actually like to watch the whole thing again very soon. [KVIFF 2023] (26/07/2023)

Uma tentativa de thriller de arte atrativa para o público, que apenas resultou num ensaio que parece de tabloide, formalmente desarticulado e psicologicamente pouco convincente, sobre a atração do mal e uma série de outros temas, com os quais trabalha de forma demasiado superficial. Se um desses temas devia ser também a crítica aos julgamentos abertamente preconceituosos e emocionalmente manipuladores, então não foi uma decisão feliz concebê-lo da perspetiva de uma protagonista antissocial e bizarramente motivada, fascinada pelo desvio. (17/07/2023)