‘Azrael’ (2024)


Just a quick one today as I have a hell of a lot to get done, over the course of the day, so really should consider trying to get ahead of myself with a little sleep first… I’m awake right now though so lets have a little chat about ‘Azrael’, the trailer definitely piqued my interest and the movie itself was only a fiver, on Prime Video, so I couldn’t really lose… Could I…? As it happens, no I didn’t :o) ‘Azrael’ raises more questions than it answers and that’s not a bad thing here, I’d say it’s well worth a look if you have a Shudder subscription or five quid to spare.

Now this is the paragraph where I would normally drop a little ‘cut and pasted’ summary of what the movie is all about… But not this time. All we know is that the Rapture happened and that a group of the people left behind renounced the sin of speech by removing their vocal cords. That’s it, that’s all the back story you get. No sooner has that been laid out then we’re onto Azrael and her lover being captured, by this sect, after having been cast out. Why? Not a clue. It’s all about Azrael’s fight to survive from here on in and it all makes for a really engaging, albeit horribly bleak, film.

It’s this constant barrage of questions that keep the movie moving at a decent pace and the near total lack of any dialogue invites you to fill in the gaps, as it were, and almost come up with your own story. For me, I was leaning towards it being a commentary on humanity and its refusal to surrender in the face of overwhelming defeat. The backdrop suggests an end that isn’t far off at all and Samara Weaving’s superb performance is all about taking that stand and never giving up. Or is it…? We get to the end and without giving it away, I was suddenly questioning what Azrael’s role really was and why she kept being drawn back to the camp. I loved that ending by the way, so much to chew on (quite literally for some of the demon creatures).

It’s not just all those questions that keep things ticking along, there is real danger lurking in the woods and if Azrael isn’t careful, she will come to a grim end, either by the hand of the cultists or the demons (they may not be demons, I’m not sure, but that’s what I’m calling them for now) that have a nasty habit of popping up when you really don’t want them to. It all makes for a tense affair that didn’t quite have me on the edge of my seat but I was shuffling towards it ;o)

There’s a lot to recommend ‘Azrael’ then; a bleak slice of horror that you can’t help but engage with. Give it a shot if you get the chance.

Comments

  1. Bookstooge23 October 2024 at 10:22

    Well, IF the Rapture did actually occur, then I'd say you're safe calling those creatures demons, because that's what they would be.
    Almost no dialogue though huh? That's a tough sell...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Graeme24 October 2024 at 16:43

      There's a little 'to and fro' (online) about whether they are demons or just extremely messed up people driven mad by the pain. Personally, I'm leaning towards demons.
      There's one guy who talks a little bit but it's a hybridized version of Esperanto so the film may as well be no dialogue at all ;o) I'd say the key points are easy to follow though but yeah, more questions than answers.

      Delete

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