Cobweb

It’s a shame that the evil is so divorced from reality due to its physical abilities and movements, while the film itself otherwise tries to remain firmly rooted in reality. And it’s also a shame about all of the strange and ill-conceived moments in the characters’ behavior and generally how they are set in the course of the scenes. Because otherwise, this “girl under the stairs from Holdenfield” very interestingly plays with genre clichés and is capable of surprising and delighting the viewer with delicious cinematography, editing and soundtrack treats. (11/06/2023)

Except for the two luxurious scares (which had already been seen in the trailer), it wasn't such a WOW movie. It had a rather slow start, a good but somewhat predictable twist, and the ending didn't completely dazzle me either. Nevertheless, it's a decent horror movie, and I don't regret going to see it in the cinema. (08/15/2023)

There hasn't been such a rich and dense mix of genres for a long time, and if someone did it even slightly differently, I wouldn't be afraid to give the film a Boo! rating with a shake of my head in disbelief at how someone could think of mixing these genres. But he creative team behind Cobweb is skilled enough to deliver a total mindfuck that in the first half is a depressing story about a weird family and the strange and harsh upbringing of their son, and in the second half it turns into a bloody body-count violent horror thing with perfect fantasy elements. The cinematography is brilliant, with dazzling angles and shots, the work with tension and music do a tremendous job of keeping the viewer in constant suspense and fear, and when the film switches genres halfway through it actually feels pretty natural and pretty damn impressive. Up until the last 10 minutes, I was convinced to give it a full score and attend a re-screening after tonight's home premiere, but the ending feels terribly unsatisfying and pretty much spoils all the build-up before it, and it fizzled out oblivion... (08/16/2023)

For four fifths of the running time, this was the best horror flick of the year. Beautifully atmospheric, like a walk through a visual horror gallery where pretty much every shot has something going on for it. A weird mum, a weird dad, a weird house; poor boy. It feels like a bizarre, psychotic nightmare about monsters in the family that you can't wake up from. The whole thing is so out of step with the logic of everyday life and behaviour that I felt it had the makings of a future cult-classic with a legion of fans who will return to it fondly. Unfortunately, the ending kind of throws a wrench in the works, and many moments suddenly don't work as they should. Maybe it needed more money for visual effects, or a more experienced editor, I don’t know, but by the end I lost that feeling of full immersion, and in the moments where there was supposed to be a terrifying climax, it was hard for me not to grin in amusement. Not to mention that the hitherto appreciated “dream illogic” becomes, well, just stupid illogic as the story progresses. And please, for the next time, the monster shouldn’t have a long expository monologue. (08/14/2023)

I expected much more from Cobweb. The reviews had me excited about a great film, but honestly, I was slightly disappointed. But let’s start from the beginning. In terms of audiovisual quality, the film is top-notch. I can’t fault it in this regard. The cast also shines (Antony Starr is truly incredible... What he can convey through just his facial expressions is remarkable). However, I find the central plot to be a problem; it didn’t captivate me as much. The film builds up beautifully, but the ending felt like it fizzled out. The creators chose to wrap up this mysterious film with a cheap slaughter without any real creativity. It’s a shame because there was definitely potential for something more polished. For me, it’s a 6/10. (08/17/2023)