BERLIN SYNDROME

‘Berlin Syndrome’ is a slow torturous burn - in a fantastically thrilling way. As mentioned before, there’s no overt, gratuitous violence or sexual assault - all the fear and tension amounts from the unpredictability of both characters and the juxtaposition of Max going about his everyday life compared to Clare’s emotional and mental decline. At just under two hours in duration, some may feel that ‘Berlin Syndrome’ drags on a little, in particular, scenes where Clare is just padding around the apartment. Rest assured, this is calculated. This film is nothing if not immersive. We need to feel the time drag on. We need to feel Clare’s isolation, frustration and mental instability.

Palmer is simply superb. I’ve always been a fan of Teresa Palmer, even if I don’t always agree with her choice in projects (‘Point Break’, anyone?) but she’s never shied away from a challenge or the raw vulnerability of a character. Clare is very interesting. She’s actually quite timid on the outside while emotionally brave on the inside. However, once enveloped by her kidnap situation, she become a fierce and formidable woman. While most films would turn someone like Clare into a scared and meek victim, here we actually see Clare go toe-to-toe with her captor, creating a unique and engrossing relationship that surprises us all.

‘Berlin Syndrome’ is a fantastic thriller for those wanting to know what ‘Taken’ would have been like is Kim didn’t have Liam Neeson as her father, or anyone who wants to know what a two-hour adrenaline rush/anxiety attack looks like. It’s awesome.