[Rik]

Originally Posted by Demdike

The Shrine (2010)

A group of American journalists go to a village in Poland to search for a backpacker who has mysteriously gone missing. Upon arrival they find a place steeped in stories of strange cults and human sacrifice.

I really enjoyed this film. One of the best i've seen from the last few years. The film is undeniably derivative making me think of The Wicker Man and Hostel Part 2 among others with echoes of Bava's Mask of Satan thrown in.

After a slowish start which enables us to get to know the four journalists the pace picks up with the discovery of a strange mist on the outskirts of the village, and within it a grotesque statue. These scenes are beautifully done and an eerie atmosphere at once bleeds from the screen.

The Shrine is classified 18 which had me mystified throughout until we arrived at the climax when all hell breaks loose and the bloody sfx come into their own. The creature design is thankfully all prosthetic and the devillish dudes look really effective.

Highly recommended.

Thanks to this review I bumped this up to high priority on Lovefilm, watched it today and really enjoyed it, definitely one to add to the collection