With its oppressive atmosphere, unnerving dissonance, and retro aesthetic, Shudder Exclusive Skinamarink (2023) delivers a deeply unsettling horror experience, unlike anything you'll see this year.
Abstract in its visual presentation and eerily ambient, Skinamarink (2023), exhibits an experimental breed of horror that's somehow strangely affecting in its nature.
Dark liminal spaces of vague nothingness, starkly sudden shots presented at obtuse angles, and a dizzying array of disorientating visual and audio effects - all elements meticulously arranged to slowly and surreptitiously disbalance the psyche.
Visually, the film draws upon Danish director Carl Theodor Dreyer's immortalized Vampyr (1932), implying sinisterly oppressive spacial awareness and shadow-based reflections to administer lingering psychological scares.
But conversely, Skinamarink's surrealist set-up and nostalgic lens make it seem like a vacant daydream turned twisted nightmare.
Despite deliberately slow pacing and perhaps an overly long runtime, there's something oddly mesmerizing about Skinamarink (2023). And if you're anything like me, you'll be dying to unravel the haunted fates of its two young protagonists while attempting to fathom the seemingly supernatural events that play out.
While Skinamarink (2023) will require patience for out-and-out-scare seekers, its bizarrely hypnotic blend of static dissonance and abstract aesthetics make it a true treat to savor for fans of atmospheric horror. Plus, expect one or two terrifying jumpscares well worth sticking around for!
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