The Romanian “Beyond the Hills” is like a chopped-and-screwed horror flick: the plot, a drama about two lifelong friends torn apart, follows a fairly typical possession/exorcism arc, but inches along at a glacial pace that threatens to sap the film of all tension. An impeccably crafted art movie, “Beyond the Hills” succeeds in achieving an almost hypnotic effect, but the sparsely gorgeous cinematography and the peculiar beauty of the Romanian language can only carry so much weight. Ultimately, the movie makes no concessions to the viewer, ending unsatisfactorily and leaving the distinct impression that the geologic pacing and meticulous visuals were nothing but a pretty veneer masking a vacant interior.
Our grade: B-
Metacritic: 79%
Rating and runtime: R, 115 min.
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