The Innocents (2021)
I stared into space long after watching this film as I needed to process what I had just watched. I feel this is one of those movies put out there to deliberately enrage viewers. I’m not vegan but the animal cruelty in this film was really unnecessary. It would have done very fine without that scene.
Well, this is a slow burn horror film, one which I had to watch at 2x speed. It’s one of those films that left a chill in my chest. It’s actually not the kind of horror that screams or jumps at you. It’s the kind that sits you, makes you grit your teeth, the kind that enrages you.
It’s Original title is De uskyldige. It's set in a sleepy Norwegian apartment complex probably during the long days of summer.
The film follows a group of kids, Ida, Ben, Anna and Aisha who begin discovering strange powers among themselves. There’s telekinesis. Mind control. Emotional transfer. But I thought it was going to be fun and all until Ben made it sour and extremely disturbing.
This isn’t Stranger Things or Chronicle with its flashy suspense and big showdowns. This one is quieter, more psychological, and honestly more unsettling. The horror creeps in through moral ambiguity, casual violence and that eerie contrast between childish innocence and supernatural malice.
I would say the director did a decent job by lingering on silences, shadows, and long takes. There’s no background music that tries to manipulate or guide your emotional response. Just the natural sounds of kids playing, wind in the trees, distant traffic. That realism makes the moments of violence feel even more jarring.
It’s not a film that will linger long with you. The pacing is also too slow and demands patience. And it doesn’t explain everything. I found myself craving more clarity on why the kids had the powers they did and what it all meant. But honestly, I think the ambiguity makes it scarier. The unknown is part of the unease.
Would I recommend it? If you’re into subtle, disturbing, and psychologically sharp horror, absolutely yes. Just know what you’re getting into. It’s not about monsters. It’s about what children are capable of when no one’s really watching.
Rating? 3/5.
PS: originally not in English. You’ll need subtitles to understand.
Mmmm, I don't mind when children are in horror movies, but I don't enjoy when they are portrayed in this kind of light.
For example, I thought Orphan was okay, if you've seen it. Even though she is really an adult, she is seen as a child, and so it was really strange to watch a child flirting with someone's husband 😅
But Orphan is an isolated case, one individual doing those things. When films simply portray children as evil, it doesn't sit right. Something obviously corrupted them for them to act in such a way
If we’re to be realistic, the attitude of the children in this film isn’t far from what happens in our everyday world. If kids were to actually have telekinesis, lots of parents will feel the impact. Therefore, I think they’re just trying to tell adults that when they’re not looking, kids can do heart wrenching things.
This is absurd. I haven’t seen it yet but I will.😂
The commentary on this film, which is terrifying in its seemingly subtle yet terrible nature, comes to us with your assessment and even warning. Thank you and regards, @teknon.
Thank you so much I really appreciate you taking time to read and the upvote. <3
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I missed this one - I did want to watch it. There's somethingabout how sound is used in a film that can be really unsettling.