Across The River

Across The River is a one-of-a-kind 2013 horror movie which intriguingly intersects the genres of drama, horror, and mystery. The movie is directed and written by the talented Lorenzo Bianchini, with thought-provoking performances from actors like Renzo Gariup, Marco Marchese, and Lidia Zabrieszach. The film, echoing with the distinctive voices of the European horror cinema, is a combination of innovative storytelling, atmospheric explorations and a haunting blend of reality and folklore.

The story follows the main character Marco Contrada (played by Renzo Gariup), a wildlife expert engaged in his lonely, all-consuming work. Marco Contrada is a man who is deeply engrossed in studying animal behavior and, his lifestyle repeatedly puts him in isolation from human society. His work takes him to different remote areas where he needs to understand and document the animal behavior patterns. The solitary research in the wilderness created a routine in his life. It's a quiet life of observation and note-taking, with his only constant companion being a digital camera that captures wildlife in its unadulterated form. However, things take a dark and ominous turn during one of his research endeavors.

The plot thickens when Marco finds himself around the backwaters of the Slovenian border and comes across something that piques his curiosity, a seemingly abandoned village, with its silence haunting and stillness uncanny. He doesn’t resist the pull to explore it, abandoning his research temporarily to follow his curiosity into the deserted alleys of this eerie place. Guided by the mysteries that the village conceals within its darkened corners, Marco delves further into it and, in the process, disturbs something that should have remained untouched.

Across The River uses the classic horror premise of an isolated, derelict place that veils terrifying secrets. Yet, the execution is distinctive and contains a very grounded sense of mythology, suspense, and hair-raising atmospheric tension that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. While the detailed character development ensures that the viewers are emotionally invested, the pacing of the movie carefully builds suspense and horror without falling into the clichéd territory of cheap jump scares or gore. Instead, the movie employs well-crafted sound design, alongside brilliant cinematography that effectively captures the desolation and fear.

Renzo Gariup, as Marco Contrada, delivers a compelling performance, successfully portraying a character who finds himself embroiled not only in the unknown paranormal elements of an abandoned site but also battling loneliness, vulnerability, and the inexplicable fear of the unseen. He makes viewers witness the gradual transition of his character from a composed researcher to a man perturbed by the mystique and horror that he experiences.

Marco Marchese and Lidia Zabrieszach, in their respective roles, also provide sturdy support to the movie's storyline, contributing to the atmosphere of dread, suspense, and mystery that permeates every scene in the film. Together, the cast brings alive a world riddled and ensnared with atmospheric horror, isolation-induced paranoia, and fear of the unknown.

The screenplay and direction by Lorenzo Bianchini are excellent and innovative. His emphasis on realistic horror, preference for atmospheric tension over gratuitous shocks sets him apart. The silence in many scenes is, at times, more horrifying than audibly explicit terror. His use of surrounding noises, the eerie quiet of the village, and the even eerier sounds that puncture this silence create an immersive and nerve-wracking viewing experience.

In conclusion, Across The River is an atmospheric and intense horror film. It's a journey into the depths of fear and the unknown, which explores horror through the lens of folklore and the tension that isolation brings. If you're a fan of horror movies that induce fear through unknown and unseen elements, atmospheric tension, and slowly escalating suspense, this is a movie you should not miss. It's a movie that lingers in your mind, not just for the horror but also the melancholic tragedy it encompasses.