R
Fans of Robert Frost’s work may recognize the title of this psychological horror. It is taken from his poem “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” and the lines in question read as follows: “The woods are beautiful, dark and deep. / But I have obligations to fulfill, / And miles to travel before I rest, / And miles to go before I reach my rest.” These lines serve as a clever, albeit subtle, way of describing the plot of writer-director Teresa Sutherland’s debut film. The story follows a new park ranger as she ventures into the wilderness, searching for a missing young woman and encountering mysterious forces that have more than just stealing picnic baskets in mind.
The specified national park has a lengthy record of different instances of people disappearing (which is not uncommon in remote countryside areas in the US), and the brave ranger is also dealing with a personal distress that can be traced back to their childhood (a common trait among main characters in horror films of the 2020s). It’s inevitable that these disappearances and their personal trauma will intertwine.
Georgina Campbell shines in the main role of the captivating film Barbarian from 2022. As the lead character, she strikes a perfect balance between vulnerability and strength, making her a likable and relatable heroine. Though she faces daunting challenges, she is not portrayed as an unstoppable warrior. Her survival is not a certainty, and while she is resourceful, she must overcome a formidable and frightening obstacle.
However, the evil forces portrayed in Lovely, Dark, and Deep are not easily defined. While initially intriguing, this lack of clarity may eventually leave those seeking a neat and tidy resolution dissatisfied. On the other hand, the horror elements of this film are skillfully executed, with eerie dream-like scenes that have a twisted attractiveness and a well-crafted atmosphere. The cinematography by Rui Poças deserves praise for creating a convincingly spooky vision of the American wilderness using landscapes from his home country of Portugal, where the majority of the film was filmed. It’s a clever deception, but one that adds to the overall effectiveness of the film.
Source: theguardian.com
