71. Red Dot; movie review

 

 

RED DOT

Cert 15

85 mins

BBFC advice: Contains injury detail, strong language, discrimination, emotionally intense scenes, violence

This is the first Swedish movie to have been taken up by Netflix and it is easy to predict that it will not be the last.

Nobody does wintry thrillers like the Scandinavians - my bones were chilled as we immersed ourselves in the shattering twists and turns of Red Dot.

And yet, after Mrs W had discussed our appreciation of Alain Darborg's movie, I spotted an avalanche of negative reviews on Internet Movie Database.

I was surprised to see how few others had rated it highly, given that we had been riveted for almost all of its concise 85 minutes.

Red Dot stars Nanna Blondell and Anastasios Soulis as Nadja and David, a newly married couple whose pre-wedding love has turned into new-home bickering, bordering on outright hostility.

Consequently, David tries to build bridges by organising a surprise short break away in the remote camp under the Northern Lights.

However, as anyone who has ever watched people camping in the woods in a movie, all does not go well.

Indeed, as soon as the tent is erected and they are snuggling up, they have reason to fear for their lives.

Savagery ensues but it would be wrong of me to give any more detail for fear of spoiling the many changes in direction of the storyline.

Suffice to say that nothing is quite as straightforward as it initially seems and the surprises are not exhausted until its very end.

At 85 minutes, Red Dot is tight - indeed, not a minute is wasted so if you watch it, don't take your eyes off the screen for a second.

Reasons to watch: Suspenseful thriller

Reasons to avoid: Many nervy moments

Laughs: One

Jumps: One

Vomit: Lots

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 8.5/10

Did you know? The best chances of seeing the Northern Lights in Europe, are in Abisko, the driest place in Sweden has the clearest nights of almost anywhere else in the Aurora belt.

The final word. Alain Darborg: "We tried to make this movie before Netflix came in, but got no support anywhere. We tried to do it ourselves - it's just two actors and a mountain - "how hard can it be?" But we realized that it was probably harder than we thought (laughs). Then the script ended up at SF Studios and then Netflix came in. Then the doors were opened so we could do it." Moviezine

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