Reviewed by Michael Edwards
Stars Lena Headey, Richard Jenkins, Asier Newman, Michelle Duncan,
Melvil Poupaud, Natasha Alderslade, Elle Crocker | Written by Sean Ellis
UK certification 15 | UK RRP £15.99 | DVD Region 2 | Runtime 90 minutes | Directed by Sean Ellis
Despite the Scandinavian "ø" in the middle of the title and the presence of current Hollywood darling Richard Jenkins, The Brøken is actually an Anglo-French horror film. This means that, without even thinking about it, you can deduce that it will be slow, steady and chilling rather than the action packed gore-mongering rollercoaster rides you can usually expect from the US.
The underlying plot of this subdued chiller is that Dr Gina McVey is walking home from work one evening and sees herself drive by in a car; she follows it home, and is shocked by what she finds. Fleeing the scene she is involved in a car crash, and if you thought that was bad then wait and see what happens next... Without spoiling too much, the story is an eerie play upon otherworldly creatures we don't understand. Always lurking nearby and always invisible, we are given no idea of what they are or what they want. Through sudden noises and fearful expressions we are drawn into an unnerving experience that leaves you with more of a general feeling of unease than a bone-curdling sense of terror.
This is, of course, no bad thing. Achieved through a threadbare soundtrack that leaves plenty of room for frightening sounds to intrude, and more specifically encourages the expectation that it will do so. In a similar vain, the elusive nature of the "other" in this horror is what makes it so frightening. It forces you to think as the film moves along, and you are actively encouraged to so by the constantly enquiring approach of Gina to the bizarre situation she faces. Constant repetitions of her crash just about escapes the impression of a director making the most of his biggest budget spend and works to repeatedly remind you of the haunting moment on which the plot hinges. Overall though, the unanswered questions and peripheral monsters fail to make a lasting impression. The premise and the execution is competent, creepy and something a little different from the usual horror far — but it's no classic.
EXTRAS *½ Just a behind-the-scenes featurette and interviews with the cast.