Entrance

While not an entirely original finale it's done well enough and exciting enough. The build up to the climax though is the main draw. Rewatch OCT 20: Disagree with my original statement. The opening hour is a bit too slow but it transitions beautifully into the climax which is still very harrowing. The slow burn of everyday anxieties that particularly women face leading into the finale works really well. Maybe would've worked better as a short or 60 minute film though.

One of the best horror films I've seen in years. By focusing almost entirely on the buildup and aftermath of something we barely witness, the directors grapple with some of the inherent ethical dilemmas of horror that Funny Games did, only in a far less smug and didactic way. It's an anti-horror film, a slow burn where what we see isn't as important as the threat of seeing, where the protagonist is human and the villain isn't the main attraction. And the long take at the end is phenomenal.

Entrance is an incredibly slow burn of a film. It's difficult to call the end a "payoff" because of how, uh...well, maybe I shouldn't spoil. Bizarre moments are placed here and there for the first hour of build up as a way to keep you on your toes and provide some insight into what's about to come, but it requires a great deal of patience. Impressive considering the budget and worth watching if you're in the right kind of mood.

Fairly stunning film goes absolutely nowhere you expect it to. Excruciatingly uncomfortable at times and sometimes uneventful but I at no time was bored. The slow burn of menace and anxiousness should be savored.

With unexpected script punch-up by John Swartzwelder: "Daaarryl! Daaarryl!"

If you like sloooooow burners, this one's for you. Almost nothing happens for the first two thirds of the movie, and only kicks into high gear for the final act. Still, it's not enough to redeem the whole thing.

Initially the very basic production values turned me off a bit. I mean, dang, this movie looks like anyone with a simple camera could've made it. And slowly but surely that feeling of familiarity starts working to its advantage. We're seeing believable people in realistic situations while we imagine ourselves in their position. Then that third act rolls around and it's all the more horrifying because by then your brain thinks you're watching 'real' people, not actors. Nicely done slow burner.

not so good

At its core, a naturalistic, if not particularly nuanced, character drama, that slowly but effectively builds to a chilling and horrific climax. It's a surprisingly moody film, and one that's probably better watching blind, even though the themes are laid on pretty thick from the beginning. Regardless, it packs more of a punch than most horror films. The acting, directing are quite impressive, and go a long way towards making this highly recommendable.

You know you're not just watching a naturalistic character study, so it's senseless to pretend that Entrance holds a big surprise, but that doesn't really spoil anything. It's a very well done drama of mounting unease that merits re-watching. The dainty Suziey Block is in pretty much every shot and never fails to intrigue.