Sator

It’s very sparse on dialogue for stretches, and the building of doom throughout is unnerving. I’m a huge horror nerd and I really don’t even have a jumping off point with this movie. It’s just incredibly unique and I can’t imagine a horror fan disliking it or at least appreciating its approach.I don’t know enough about sound on a film to know if it’s sound engineering or editing, but whatever it is they did an insanely good job. It scrapes the calm off of your skin and digs into your bones. I really wish I had a better sound system to have enjoyed it, but it was still great on the television speaker.

The positives, cinematography was excellent as well as the sound design. I did tire of the long hallway shots though, they went to that well a few too many times. I am glad to have watched it based on visuals, but that's where my enjoyment ended. The pacing was tedious, I was expecting a slow burn from the beginning. I understand trying to build tension, but there really wasn't any payoff. It was anti-climactic and seem to just want to quickly tie the story up at the end. The cutting in, and out of exposition via home movie footage didn't do much besides make things even more confusing. Most of the characters just seem like they are there for dialogue, but don't really have any arc, or place in the story except to be warm bodies that talk. The only character I had any sort of emotion towards was the dog. Watch for the eye candy, but drink some coffee because you will nod.

What made Hereditary, a film that Sator has been farcically compared to, work so brilliantly was how it weaved the trauma of a family and its characters into an unfathomable ritual that unfolds in twists and turns, each descending into a madness of tragedy that all fall into place for its final horrifying conclusion. You get to see the family interact with each other and devolve into their places as the plot and the truth of what's going on unfolds.That's called a plot. That's called characterization. That's how you tell a story.Sator chooses to instead rely on stale "fresh-out-of-film-school" shots and a recording of a woman that plays over the entire film that essentially repeats the word "Sator" over and over (and which does a horrendous job of attempting to build mythos), while pretentious shots of characters' faces or of woods we know nothing about and which have not been given a space to come alive, fill up that vital time in which we should be at least learning something about the characters, the world, the circumstances, who everyone is, why we are watching these things we know nothing about happening—you know, stuff that makes up a movie and not a graduate project for your professor to show how many French movies you've seen.Sator is a bad movie. It attempts to build dread, but gives no reason why we should dread anything that may come, and wears out the viewer's patience waiting to learn SOMETHING about the characters and why we should care. Making a movie very dark and slow while keeping the script below 600 words does not build atmosphere, it does not build story, it does not build plot, it does not develop characters, it does not build a mythology. That requires the characters doing things other than walking out to blow a horn, and then maybe looking at some woods with an expression on their face, or forcing the viewer to listen to an older woman incessantly talk about "Sator" and how powerful he is. This isn't to say there's no dialogue because there is, but what's there is usually so unsubstantive and thin that it is barely even effective in giving the viewer the most basic of information about these characters.I don't care about Sator, because the movie gives me no reason to. I don't care about these characters, because the movie gives me no reason to. Someone simply telling the viewer that Sator is powerful and great over and over in a banal recording does not instill a sense of dread or mystique in this figure, it makes me wonder what's wrong with this person or why the interviewer was so terrible at their job that they didn't move it along. Simply having people occupying space in your film does not make them characters, it is their personalities, interactions, and changes that make them characters.I am growing very weary of these bad attempts at art house horror that are all "please grade me, professor!" and no "I am building characters and situations that are enjoyable or horrifying to watch". I don't care if you can ape some style of French or Japanese cinema, especially if you don't understand what makes those movies work, what I care about is not having my time wasted in the poor attempt. This movie feels like it took a long time to make. I say that because it isn't a coherent thought, it feels like the director scrambled over the course of several years and life events trying to make something work, while forgetting to make it work as a movie.The only exception in this movie is the older actress. She is INCREDIBLE. She is so fantastic that I at times questioned whether she was really just a person who they simply did interviews with and then spliced it in the movie. I can't remember the last time I've seen an actor portray so realistically. She is wonderful and deserving of an Oscar-caliber movie worthy of her talents.But even her phenomenal acting couldn't pull this movie from the dark, overrated abyss. She has single-handedly added 1 and-a-half stars to this movie.It's 2 stars, and barely worth that.

I won't recount, in full, how personal this project clearly was to the director, Jordan Graham. I'll just point out that it took about six years for him to complete this film, and that for anyone who's interested, there exists interviews with him that explain a lot of the backstory behind its creation. Be advised, it's some sad stuff.That aside, if you'd prefer to go in cold on this one, I can say that it's a proper slow-burn horror piece that oozes in atmosphere. An ominous dread hangs over every frame from beginning to end. I will say, however, that a lot of the plot seems a bit lacking and perhaps under-developed. There was potential for much more here from a viewer's standpoint, but given how personal the story was to the director, I can understand the decision to go his own way with this.3.5 / 5, posting as a 4 purely out of support.

This movie claims to be about a "demon" in the woods watching a family. This movie leads one to believe it is another horror movie. It is not. The only real "DEMON" is this one, is found in the heart of man. Because we learn through all the atmospheric scenes. The haze of black & white. The slowness of action. "Sator", is nothing more than a cult of killers. Perhaps this would have been appreciated and would have received 5 stars. Since it was pulled off well. If I had wanted to see a movie about cold hearted human beings. I didn't and I don't. So I gave it two stars. If one loves human tragedy, then watch this one. If one goes looking for a demonic, ghost movie. Avoid this one.

Natural beauty, minimal dialogue, and one of the creepiest stories I've experienced in a long while. I hope that this great movie gets the exposure and accolades it deserves. Shocking events delivered quietly and matter of factly create a sense of foreboding that is almost unbearable at times. This is horror elevated to art which serves to make the horror even more unsettling. It reminds me a bit of Anti-Christ in a good way.

Heard a lot of mixed reviews, so I wanted to see this for myself. I personally think this under tone is about mental health. It wasn't a bad movie. But also keep an open mind, had beautiful cinematography as well.

One of my new favorites. Love the minimal dialogue and costume. Scenery is absolutely gorgeous as well. I'll admit, this movie may not be for everyone, but for people like myself who love a great tale of a Demon, even if it comes off a little vague in story it's so worth it. Already re-watched this film like ten times.

Tiene momentos buenos pero para mi es un poco floja,pero profundiza un poco en los personajes.

There is a good film in here somewhere. The visuals are excellent; the tension builds well; the naturalistic acting is good; the sound track is creepy; the folk horror tropes are interesting. Almost everything is exactly the type of film I like. So why not five stars? The story isn't quite strong enough. There is a lot of suggestion of storyline but nothing is quite strong enough to pull it through. I even like a film where you have to do a bit of work to understand what is going on but this was a little too oblique. As a result, I was left in a state of confusion trying to draw things together. It kept me watching though which is more than most modern horror does. This is a film maker to watch and I'll definitely be looking out for his other films in the future.

This film is awful stay away from it

Super prompt delivery. As a seasoned horror veteran, this was better than I thought. The docu-drama style adds a personal touch not often seen in the genre, making what unfolds all the more disturbing. There are a few wonderfully executed scenes that will have you worrying the upholstery and the atmosphere is pretty unrelenting throughout. I eagerly await the director's next offering.

There's not an awful lot of meat on this one, but it is very stylish and atmospheric. Spoiled a little by a predictable ending.