Nightsiren

Superstition can be a powerful influence. Whereas Robert Eggers illustrated this within the historical backdrop of The Witch, director and co-writer Tereza Nvotová brings this discussion to a remote mountain village in modern-day Slovakia, where folklore remains a major part of the inhabitants’ lives in Nightsiren. Moreover, Nvotová and co-writer Barbora Namerova smartly deploy the witchy elements in this slow-burn chiller to explore themes of violence and misogyny.

After running away from home following a harrowing family tragedy involving her sister, Sarlota (Natalia Germani) returns to the mountain village 20 years later to claim the inheritance left by her mother. But when events cause her to remain in the area longer than expected, her search for answers about her troubled past cause the villagers to become convinced that she’s a witch. As tensions begin to grow between Sarlota and the rest of the village, events become stranger and more violent.

With sound design that rumbles fiercely, and cinematography comprised of dense woodland surrounded in swirling mist, the setting plays a large role in establishing the atmosphere. Although the film takes place in the current day, the village itself could be mistaken for medieval if it weren’t for the occasional modern appliances. A highway seen in stunning establishing shots of the valley the area is located in is a reminder that civilisation is nearby. However, it also reinforces how isolated they are.

Even before the tension reaches its boiling point, violence against women in this community is shown to be frightening. In one scene, Sarlota and friend Mira (Eva Mores) hide from men who break the door down, drag both women out of the house, and throw them into the water. For the men, it’s light-hearted fun that’s part of an Easter tradition; to the women, it’s an unwanted ordeal that they’re expected to endure. This sequence is one of the most intense in the film. It’s disappointing, then, that these heights aren’t reached again.

While Nvotová uses the confrontations between the protagonist and the villagers to explore various ways in which misogyny manifests within society, the supernatural thrills don’t have much bite to them. Consequently, the suspense lessens its grip just as the chaos begins to take hold.

Andrew Murray

Nightsiren does not have a UK release date yet.

Read more reviews from our Glasgow Film Festival 2023 coverage here.

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Watch the trailer for Nightsiren here: