Thelma (2017)

Thelma (2017)

A psychosexual thriller from acclaimed director Joachim Trier

7.2

Movie

Denmark, France
Norwegian, Swedish
Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery
2017
JOACHIM TRIER
Anders Mossling, Camilla Belsvik, Eili Harboe
116 min

What it's about

A college student starts to experience extreme seizures. She soon learns that the violent episodes are a symptom of inexplicable abilities.

The take

Much like the 1976 horror classic Carrie, Thelma centers on a young telekinetic woman whose religious upbringing and sexual repression give way to unpredictable moments of fury and rage. When she meets the cool, charismatic Anja, she falls in love immediately, but the wave of emotions that overwhelm her threaten to destabilize not just their budding romance, but other relationships and lives as well. 

Thelma recalls Carrie in other ways too, most notably in the way it uses supernatural elements to allude to female fury and lust, but it also stands on its own as a singular piece of work; the mesmerizing transitions, the slow-burn pace, and the undercurrent of melancholia are all known trademarks of director Joachim Trier. This layering of old and new makes Thelma an intriguing watch, at once recognizable and wholly original. 

 

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