Moloch (2022) Movie Review

Folklore is an endless source of inspiration for horror films, as many filmmakers have proven over the years. While some of these films are a mixed bag, they remain popular with genre enthusiasts. One such film is Moloch, a Dutch horror film that is sure to satisfy those who enjoy cult-like stories with fatal endings. However, for the average moviegoer, this film might not be worth the watch, especially if you're not a fan of unfinished resolutions shot in dim lighting and eccentric locations.

Moloch follows the story of Betriek, a widowed mother living with her parents in an obscure village. She had a traumatising experience as a child when blood poured on her through the floorboards in the ceiling while she was locked in a closet. This opening scene is incredibly powerful and executed with great taste, giving the audience a brief glimpse before shutting the door on the horrors that lie ahead. Fast forward three decades, and Betriek is once again on the verge of being caught up in the cultural anomalies that surround her village.

Director Nico van Brink takes a measured approach to the narrative, opting for a quieter and more observant mood than contemporary horror films. The pacing is slow and deliberate, but unfortunately, the story's development is unpolished and languid. While the director lays out little pieces of the puzzle for the audience to pick up along the way, some pieces fit, while others do not. This exercise becomes frustrating, as the horror elements remain underdeveloped and only briefly glimpsed.

Brink invests a lot of time in showing serious-minded conversations between the characters that reveal a lot about their pasts and what the future holds. However, jump scares and gore are not the focus of Moloch, as the director chooses the path less traveled. Instead, he relies on the isolated locations' ominous aesthetics, turning the marshlands and dull village into sinister forces of nature by night. The film's soundtrack is a highlight, with its composition perfectly suited to the film's theme and central intrigue.

While Moloch's influences from classic horror films such as Hereditary, The Wicker Man, and It Follows are evident, the film doesn't feel particularly inventive or original. It hangs somewhere in the middle, not quite sure where it belongs. Despite spending so much time with the characters, the story doesn't go anywhere, and the details don't add value to them, leaving the audience stuck without knowing how to feel or what to make of them.

It's only towards the end that the audience finally relates to and roots for a character in the film. Typically, horror films follow a formulaic approach, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. However, Moloch fails to reinvent or even follow the formula, leading to its downfall. The relationship between Betreik and her daughter could have been the springboard for Brink's ambitious project in the genre hall of fame. Still, unfortunately, the film fails to get the audience more involved in Moloch's universe.

In conclusion, Moloch is a well-made and acted film but fails to stand out from the pack. While it has some good elements, it falls short in terms of character development and story structure. Overall, it is an average horror film that might appeal to genre enthusiasts but is skippable for the average moviegoer.

Verdict : A must watch for Horror genre lovers.