With cuckoo is currently terrorizing audiences in cinemas with its reality-distorting approach horrorFor many, the film will be their first experience with German filmmaker Tilman Singer. However, Singer had moderate success and gained a slight cult following with his debut film Lighta dark story of demonic possession that revolves around the integration of a young woman suspected of murder.

For fans of possession horror films, especially those who have already had the opportunity to cuckoo in theaters, Light is a unique treat that the avid fan of religiously inspired horror films should not miss. Full of atmosphere, a hypnotic score and deceptively profound, we will explore why Light is a must for fans of possession horrorcompare it with cuckooand we’ll tell you how you can watch filmmaker Tilman Singer’s debut for yourself.

Luz is an abstract experience

Light is a film to experienceas many details are found in nuanced moments and hinted at through an abstract visual and narrative approach. The plot, however, revolves around a young woman, the titular Luz, who is brought to a police station for questioning about the death of one of her taxi passengers, an old friend named Nora. She is put into a hypnotic state by a doctor and narrates the events, but an evil entity hovers over the entire process, exerting its influence during and around the interview.

Since it is a German indie film in German and Spanish, the actors involved in the project will be largely unknown to American audiences. This is especially true of lead actress Luana Velis, who plays the title character. Light; the film about demonic possession is the actor’s only film that goes beyond a short film. Julia Riedler, who plays Nora, has acted in a handful of German and Austrian productions, but nothing notable outside of those markets. Actor Jan Bluthardt, who plays the doctor, will be a familiar face, as director Singer has cast him in cuckoo to play the role of Henry. Light is Tilman Singer’s first feature-length film, followed by cuckoo.

Why “Luz” is a must-see for fans of horror films about possession

With the caveat that you absolutely have to see the film, Light will primarily appeal only to horror fans who appreciate an abstract and minimalist approach to storytellingNot quite on par with the best slow horror films, but a continuous exercise in terror.

Where Light stands out as an immersive horror experience that relies heavily on sight and sound to create a consistent sense of dread. The chaos that ensues in the second half is framed by a conversation in a bar that took place earlier. What makes this slightly odd conversation even more unsettling is Singer’s use of intimate close-ups that show the sweat and nervousness of those involved. This is accompanied by an ethereal score that emphasizes the specificity of the discussion about Luz, the woman the doctor will meet later that day.

Related

The 20 best horror movie endings of the 21st century (so far)

A good ending to a horror movie can enhance the experience. These are the best horror endings of the 21st century.

When Luz and the doctor finally meet, the lines with reality become blurred as the young woman’s hypnosis causes her to remember the events in her taxi. The scene carries over into the interrogation room, but is also told in flashbacks. Again, music is used throughout to heighten the unease of the unfolding events. There is also a translator repeating lines of dialogue from the Spanish-speaking Luz, and another party’s radio is incorporated into this scene, making the entire sequence a continuous aural assault on the senses. Rather than shocking the audience, the horror seeps in deceptively through this constant barrage of visual and aural fear..

These elements make Luz a successful horror film about demonic possession, as the constant bombardment of the senses creates the pervasive feeling that the devil is always present and orchestrating every moment. Furthermore, the concept of evil is treated with such severity that blasphemous statements carry weight; in other films, where cursing the Trinity or Mother Mary would be nothing more than a quick dig, such words inspire deep fear given the consequences they bring. The film is just over an hour long and is largely devoid of dialogue. Light captures this primal fear born of religious zeal more successfully than countless other modern horror films that attempt to capture terror on a biblical level.

Similarities between Luz and Cuckoo

Light And cuckoo are two different beastsThe German-language film is not suitable for a cinema release, even if one ignores the difficulties that foreign films can have in getting into cinemas. The truth is that Lightis the definition of a minimalist horror film style that is not suitable for the mainstream. If you compare it with cuckoo, Light has that charisma of the first film of a director who is infinitely promising but outside the norm, so that it will stay there indefinitely; some fans of cuckoo may not appreciate Singer’s approach to possession in his first horror film. At the same time, those who embrace all styles and approaches of horror cinema will probably find Light a pleasure to be connected to cuckoo obvious to the more attentive observer.

Related

Over 50 of the best horror films of all time, ranked

From the scariest and smartest to the most historically significant, brutal and downright fantastical, these are the best horror movies.

The most obvious comparison lies in the exploration of the dynamics between authority and rebellion from the perspective of a female protagonist. LightThe title character fights against male authoritarian figures in the form of priests, psychiatrists and government institutions in the form of the police. cuckoo also sees a female protagonist, Gretchen, who finds her way in an environment full of authority figures whose own motivations seem equally dubious. While Light is more abstract in its narrative and approach, its underlying theme that drives the drama connects it with cuckoo to the point where one could argue that it is a spiritual successor

The abstract approach to storytelling is also relevant to both films. Both films focus on the psychological state of the characters to explore their identity through the lens of horror. However, director Singer uses experimental imagery and narrative to explore these themes. On a visual level, both films use atmospheric lighting and sound to enhance that pervasive sense of dread; Luz’s The film’s score is a masterful example of how to create atmosphere through constant ambient noise. Both films emphasize visual storytelling in a way that can be hypnotic, one of Singer’s greatest strengths as a creative.

Light is currently available to stream on AMC+. If you want to see Tilman Singer’s latest work, which received much critical acclaim here at MovieWeb, Cuckoo is currently in cinemas and will later be available to stream on Hulu as part of Neon’s distribution.