Having been aware of Ronny Carlsson's work since the release of Récompence back in 2010, I've always wondered how he would react to being called a horror filmmaker. There's certainly an undercurrent of horror throughout his productions but it's only with the release of Creature 2013 that he truly seizes the genre with both hands.
As soon as Creature 2013 begins, the viewer is assaulted with a surprisingly low-fi experience. Being familiar with the perfection of previous Ronny Carlsson visuals (despite being shot on a mobile, even Goodbye, Little Betty is stunning to look at), the visual noise, static and general VHS-like appearance of the opening scene is clearly deliberate. This style remains for the duration of the movie and you feel like you're perhaps watching a previously undiscovered Swedish "video nasty" from the '80s. Like some of the original nasties, this production is thought provoking and not all about flying entrails (though these may make an appearance during the proceedings). It's worth noting that as the end credits roll, thanks go to the ever creative Michael Todd "Maggot" Schneider for the digital downgrading. Having seen a number of Schneider's movies, his trademark "used video" appearance is as successful as always.
Carlsson is reunited with actress Daniela Melin for this short movie. I really like this young actress, she is absolutely stunning and moves with an unconscious grace. All credit goes to the director, who rarely dwells on Melin's physical beauty, concentrating instead on the surroundings and the chain of events that unravels on the screen. This results in every glimpse of this actress' face being pure gold. As with Goodbye, you have the feeling that both Melin and Carlsson suffer for their art. When they're not working in freezing conditions, they are shooting from a frightening height whilst being assaulted by the elements. I was left with the impression that there's no such thing as an easy shooting day on a Ronny Carlsson film.
There are familiar Carlsson motifs in this film; an incident in the past impacts on what you're seeing now; characters are obsessed / are involved with a ritual or rituals; there's at least one scene involving a mask; the great outdoors and forestry play a large part in the look of the production, and so on. Carlsson utilises all his strengths on this production, the sound in this short is amazing and the visuals are unique.
Creature 2013 is a challenging film in that it's the most enigmatic of the director's movies to- date (although, I confess, I've yet to see Dust Box). Just as you think you've worked out where this tale is taking you, it catches the viewer off-guard and proceeds in a totally different direction.
This is the most graphic of Carlsson's movies and there are some scenes of real unpleasantness ("Maggot" also assisted with the grisly stuff by supplying a bloody skeletal arm prop).
This short is experimental as always but it works beautifully. A second viewing will be required to pick up more of its nuances. This grey haired Brit would love to sit down and share a few bottles of Starköl whilst discussing the finer points of Creature 2013 with the director. He shows genuine imagination and a drive to deliver an uncompromised vision.
Recommended.
As soon as Creature 2013 begins, the viewer is assaulted with a surprisingly low-fi experience. Being familiar with the perfection of previous Ronny Carlsson visuals (despite being shot on a mobile, even Goodbye, Little Betty is stunning to look at), the visual noise, static and general VHS-like appearance of the opening scene is clearly deliberate. This style remains for the duration of the movie and you feel like you're perhaps watching a previously undiscovered Swedish "video nasty" from the '80s. Like some of the original nasties, this production is thought provoking and not all about flying entrails (though these may make an appearance during the proceedings). It's worth noting that as the end credits roll, thanks go to the ever creative Michael Todd "Maggot" Schneider for the digital downgrading. Having seen a number of Schneider's movies, his trademark "used video" appearance is as successful as always.
Carlsson is reunited with actress Daniela Melin for this short movie. I really like this young actress, she is absolutely stunning and moves with an unconscious grace. All credit goes to the director, who rarely dwells on Melin's physical beauty, concentrating instead on the surroundings and the chain of events that unravels on the screen. This results in every glimpse of this actress' face being pure gold. As with Goodbye, you have the feeling that both Melin and Carlsson suffer for their art. When they're not working in freezing conditions, they are shooting from a frightening height whilst being assaulted by the elements. I was left with the impression that there's no such thing as an easy shooting day on a Ronny Carlsson film.
There are familiar Carlsson motifs in this film; an incident in the past impacts on what you're seeing now; characters are obsessed / are involved with a ritual or rituals; there's at least one scene involving a mask; the great outdoors and forestry play a large part in the look of the production, and so on. Carlsson utilises all his strengths on this production, the sound in this short is amazing and the visuals are unique.
Creature 2013 is a challenging film in that it's the most enigmatic of the director's movies to- date (although, I confess, I've yet to see Dust Box). Just as you think you've worked out where this tale is taking you, it catches the viewer off-guard and proceeds in a totally different direction.
This is the most graphic of Carlsson's movies and there are some scenes of real unpleasantness ("Maggot" also assisted with the grisly stuff by supplying a bloody skeletal arm prop).
This short is experimental as always but it works beautifully. A second viewing will be required to pick up more of its nuances. This grey haired Brit would love to sit down and share a few bottles of Starköl whilst discussing the finer points of Creature 2013 with the director. He shows genuine imagination and a drive to deliver an uncompromised vision.
Recommended.