Rent Neverlake (2013)

Increasingly demented - highly recommended! - Neverlake review by NP

Director Riccardo Paoletti has managed to weave a dark fairy-tale out of Manuela Cacciamani and Carlo Longo stark and tragic horror story that is hugely enjoyable. We're given a selection of characters, some of whom appear to be 'good' and others 'bad'. However, we're not given to judge them, simply to go along with their actions and interactions and make up our own minds. The ending is bittersweet, and it's up to the audience to decide whether the outcome is the correct one.

I love films that challenge us in this way, rather than hand every emotion to us on a plate. It's also beautifully photographed and convincingly acted. It's a slow story that gives us the chance to get to know the characters as events slowly spiral into more twisted, demented places. The plot isn't entirely watertight, but the holes only occur after the credits have finished rolling - for the duration, you are captivated and intrigued - and horrified - enough by the story not to let such things distract.

My score is 9 out of 10.