First Lithuanian slasher ‘We Would possibly Damage Every Different’ provides enjoyable twists to a well-known formulation [CFF 2023]

In case you’ve by no means seen a Lithuanian horror film earlier than, there’s an excellent purpose for that–they aren’t actually a factor. Not like many different locations, Lithuania doesn’t have a historical past of horror in films. There isn’t even a lot when it comes to written fiction. Director/co-writer Jonas Trukanas hopes to be a part of the turning tide on that together with his first characteristic We Would possibly Damage Every Different (a.ok.a. Pensive, a.ok.a. Rupintojelis). We Would possibly Damage Every Different is Lithuania’s first slasher film, and it largely sticks to the formulation we all know–with some welcome twists.

The movie follows teenage wallflower Marius as he and his classmates hope to discover a place to rejoice their highschool commencement. Though a lot of the youngsters on this tight knit group have already begun to plan their futures, together with Rimas who will doubtless be drafted by the NBA, Marius doesn’t actually know what he’ll do subsequent. Whereas Rimas does seem like one in every of his shut buddies, we shortly see that Marius is jealous not solely the eye Rimas will get at college, but additionally the eye Rimas will get from Marius’ personal dad and mom. Oh, additionally, Rimas has a scorching girlfriend that Marius wish to get near. When the unique celebration location falls by, Marius involves the rescue with a property he overhears his realtor mom speaking about–a secluded cabin within the woods that nobody is excited by shopping for as it’s the website of a tragic hearth that killed a complete household save for one survivor. You see the place that is going..that one remaining member of the family can’t be in a mentally wholesome place.

Algis Motiejūnas helplessly watched his spouse and kids die in that home hearth and was reluctantly thrust into the media highlight. He then retreated as a hermit creating creepy folks artwork sculptures of his household. These sculptures are within the model of the “Pensive Christ” the place Jesus is depicted, shortly earlier than crucifixion, considering his future with one or each arms at his face. Whereas the movie doesn’t have overt spiritual themes, the inclusion of this element not solely alludes to the kids on the precipice of their very own futures, but additionally embraces a Lithuanian custom the place it isn’t unusual to search out statues of this kind all through the countryside. Naturally, the youngsters can’t hold themselves from fucking up these statues in a myriad of the way and find yourself on a kill-list with their method of dying displays the way during which they defaced the artwork. Unknowingly creating their very own life dimension picket voodoo dolls, the kids behead, burn, chop and skewer the icons.

So far as slashers go, a lot of what’s right here is fairly customary. Even the killer himself may be very Jason-like and resides in a really Friday the thirteenth setting. Not one of the kills are significantly inventive, and plenty of are off display. However the ones we do get to see are efficient. The place the movie actually strays from the formulation is within the character arc. As a substitute of a pure and heroic “closing lady”, we’re given Marius. A teen boy who’s, frankly, tough to love. His motivations are virtually completely in his personal self curiosity all through the movie culminating within the final teenage conduct of being just about fantastic with different folks dying so long as he may get an opportunity to impress the lady. It’s a daring transfer to place an unlikable character on the helm of your movie, but it surely works right here not solely as a result of it breaks the mould we’re used to, but additionally as a result of it’s, sadly, pretty plausible. By the top I started to assume that the Fragile Male Ego was the actual killer all alongside.

Whereas I want we may have wallowed extra within the blood and guts of a reasonably excessive kill rely, the top result’s completely pleasant. A teenage rave within the wilderness surrounded by creepy folks artwork is a superb arrange and the solid turns in nice work. The narrative does simply sufficient to subvert stereotypes and stand out from the pack so far as slashers are involved–even when the killer himself leaves a bit to be desired. It is a stable begin for Lithuanian slashers (and for Trukanas as a director), and I’m excited to see extra of each!

We Would possibly Damage Every Different screened at Chattanooga Movie Competition and has been acquired by Screambox