Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by mr grits (A) on February 24, 2011 at 17:19:11

Where do they get their feel for the closeness and reality of relationships and personal interactions? Their craft or magic for bringing the viewer to an uncomfortable place he doesn't belong is unparalleled.

Mikael (Ulrich Thomsen) has taken leave from his government job to de-stress himself for the first time in his career. Having just moved into his wife's family home in the outburbs he figures he will get a grip on finding a new life for himself.

He finds out about a new clinical trial for a new anti-depressant from his rowing partner and brother-in-law, Frederik. Out of boredom he decides to participate against Frederik's best advice. All goes well until he witnesses outbursts of violence during his routine clinical checkups. Frederik comes to Mikael to inform him of the cancellation of the trials and Mikael concurs by telling him he had already flushed the remainder (four months supply) of the pills.

Mikael hadn't really flushed those pills as they had already started to make him feel like a new man. A person who was growing free of the past and himself. And, boy, how he grows as he slowly descends into a pathological madness that effects all around him.

The closeup, focused cinematography brings you into the story unlike most film. All the cast turn in terrific performances and the edginess and tenseness of the script serve up that uncomfortable feeling not wanting to witness the transactions at hand.

Highly recommended. Four out of five.