Monday, July 27, 2020


¡QUÉ HORROR2020
Candidate #7

AMULET
(January 2020)


You think I know nothing of the world, you are wrong.
“The very worst trouble, secrets. The deepest pains of existence find their way into these walls.
“This is not a sanctuary.
“This is a crucible.”

In Romola Garai’s feature debut, Amulet, Tomaz (Alec Secareanu) is a broken soul haunted by his past. But an apparently chance encounter with Imelda Staunton’s Sister Claire brings him an opportunity to start anew.
But you should all know the drill by now.
This is a title that’s getting a ¡Q horror! Candidate’s slot, so things will not be coming up roses for Tomaz anytime soon…

Lesson learned.
Do not trust Imelda Staunton!


“Evil must be contained…”

Amulet moves at a considered pace, so much so that it may lull you into thinking you know where the narrative’s headed. But when the true kookoo bananas horror stuff kicks in, the story becomes infused with an unholy urgency that sends it charging relentlessly towards a surreal climax of terrible beauty.

There are very welcome echoes of some of Clive Barker’s early Books of Blood work in Garai’s screenplay, but to say which would be telling.
Suffice it to say that Amulet is a brutal and nasty piece of work… with teeth

“Ate well, didn’t you?
“Well, now it’s time to pay for your meal…”

(Amulet OS’ courtesy of bloody-disgusting.com.)