A young woman’s return to the rural village of her childhood is met with derision and accusations in Tereza Nvotová’s Nightsiren. In the wake of her estranged mother’s death, Sarlota (Natalia Germani) is summoned back home. It’s a trip that Sarlota does not want to take. She has few memories of her childhood, but those she does have are not pleasant. Her return sparks repressed memories and as she tries to reconcile with them, she is faced with contempt from the locals, due in part to Sarlota’s reputation as a witch. Only stranger Mira (Eva Mores) is openly welcoming to Sarlota and the two women connect. As they draw closer, the townsfolk begin whipping themselves into a frenzy and Sarlota finds herself the target of a modern witch hunt.
Nightsiren is a slow and sombre story that marinates in eerie atmospherics to ensure its effectiveness. The look of Nightsiren is sublime. Nvotová weaves her narrative around gorgeous and disturbing visuals. The cinematography is breath-taking, highlighting the country’s beauty, whilst also exploiting its potential for inducing nightmares. Not only is the natural beauty twisted to facilitate the horror themes, Nvotová adds in some nuanced ethereal visual sequences. A sequence involving luminescent bodies is a particular treat, as is Nvotová’s contrasting of white on vibrant red during a climatic moment. Nightsiren is a genuine feast for the eyes, the style of the piece aiding the more pensive plot points.
The narrative itself is one that needs to be paid attention to. It unfolds in a slow and brooding fashion, the point where the mind begins to wander if the viewer doesn’t reign in their attention. What story there is focuses on empowering women, and helping them break free of the shackles of patriarchy, whilst highlighting the oppressive nature of misogyny. The themes are timeless and speak for themselves, and whilst the plot meanders a tad, by the beautifully rendered climax the audience will all be dancing with delight. All in all, Nightsiren makes a grand addition to the modern era of folk horror.
Nightsiren
Summary
Set within the gorgeous country and woodlands of Slovakia, Nightsiren channels many modern folk horrors, extrapolating their essence and wrapping them into an overtly feminine and queer narrative.
Nightsiren was reviewed at Glasgow Film Festival 2023. Nightsiren arrives on limited edition Blu-ray from 3rd June 2024.
