In its fourth year, the After Dark Horrorfest has given many independent horror films a chance to shine as part of a movement to showcase the genre at its best. Although the films are flawed, the one thing that the 8 films do have in common each year is how wide the genre is in terms of story, scare factor, and tension. While some go straight for the gore, there is always one film that focuses more on chilling, psychological terror, and more often than not it’s one of the better films released by After Dark for the festival.
This year, the film in question is Hidden, a well crafted psychological horror film from Norway that starts strong and never lets up for a moment. Kai Koss (Kristoffer Joner) has inherited his old family estate after the death of his mother, who wasn’t particularly nice to him as a child. Once he returns to the house, where he hasn’t been in 19 years, painful memories stir up in some disturbing images from his past. As he reflects on his traumatic childhood, he becomes involved with a series of murders within the area. With the help of his friend Sara Kai tries to put together the fractured pieces of his past.
Hidden (released as Skjult in its native Norway) really doesn’t offer us anything we haven’t seen before both in psychological terror and in providing a creepy, possibly haunted house as the film’s main location. However, good pacing, fine acting, and an interesting twist halfway through the movie make it work. There is a mystery surrounding Kai however there is instant sympathy as you see what he went through as a child and that story in itself is captivating in that he is trying to bury his personal demons. It does get a little complicated with its many subplots and while you do know where the film is going, it does throw in a few twists that while it’s been done before, there is an ambiguity that makes the viewer decide the movie’s fate. Some may find that approach to be pretentious but in this case, it works well.
The film looks great, and as stated before is nicely paced, with writer/director Pal Oie providing a good, creepy tale. There are some “stinger” moments which distract more than scare however there are some genuine moments of dread and creepiness. Part of this has to do with the film’s magnificent cinematography by Sjur Aarthun, with the Norwegian landscapes never looking so sinister. The flashbacks are artfully done and the house is your standard, run of the mill “creepy” house.
The DVD has no real special features, other than three After Dark trailers, a trailer for Saw VI, and a menu that shows all of the After Dark Horrorfest films. I guess the box art wasn’t alone in letting you know that After Dark is responsible for the film’s release. The transfer is nice and beautiful, showing the full 2:35 aspect radio in all its glory.
Hidden is a terrific film for those who are into psychological horror. It has its share of scares and some jump out of your seat moments. The film’s violence is minimal, but is unrelenting when it does occur on screen. The acting is top notch as the characters, especially Koss, are very believable. Overall, Hidden is one of the best entries in the entire After Dark Horrorfest slate to date.
– Alan G. Richter
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
