Hall

Hall is a thrilling 2020 horror film directed by Francesco Giannini. The movie features a slate of talented actors including Julian Richings, Carolina Bartczak, and Yumiko Shaku who all give riveting performances. This chilling horror film uniquely explores the genre by incorporating elements of both thriller and psychological horror. The expertly crafted story offers haunting imagery and sequences that are sure to linger long after the credits roll.

The plot primarily revolves around a horrifying viral outbreak, presented in a very unconventional manner. The setting is a hotel corridor (thus 'Hall'), which gives the film a confined, claustrophobic feel that greatly accentuates its horror elements. The hotel itself, with its long winding corridors and eerily nondescript rooms, is as much a character in the film as the actors themselves. It encapsulates a creeping sense of dread and foreboding, turning the familiar into something truly eerie and unsettling.

The film opens with a dramatic setting of a wedding which takes place in the hotel. This cheerful, blissful event sets the initial tone but quickly fades away as eerie events begin to unfold. It then converges into the lives of two women, Naomi, a Japanese woman played by Yumiko Shaku, and Val, portrayed by Carolina Bartczak.

Naomi, a newlywed, is excited about beginning her life with her husband while Val struggles with her doomed marriage to an abusive husband. They are completely unaware of each other, but their lives cross paths in an unexpected and chilling manner as they both end up in the same hotel. This plays out in a heart-racing, often contemplative narrative that brings together parallel storylines in a way that viewers might not see coming.

The key element in this storyline is a devastatingly potent virus that spreads through the hotel's hallways, turning its victims into nightmarish creatures. The ataxophobic (fear of disorder or chaos) environment base of the plot heightens the sense of dread, leaving the audience never quite sure what horror might lurk around the next corner.

Julian Richings adds his unique flavor to the character of an elderly historian who is somehow intertwined with the unexplainable incidents. The manner in which the historian's story intersects with Naomi and Val's narratives adds a nuanced layer to Hall's plot. As the hotel guests start falling one after another to the viral menace, every character's fears, weaknesses, and secrets surface, giving a dynamic and human dimension to the horror that is unfolding.

Giannini, in a brilliant directorial fashion, builds up suspense and fear in the viewers through wonderfully atmospheric shots of the hotel hall and the confusion that emanates within its rooms. The director effectively uses a slow-burn approach, gradually building up the atmosphere and suspense, rather than relying on jump scares or gore. The result is a creeping horror that is as psychological as it is physical, and the scares are more profound and enduring because of this approach.

The cinematography of Hall is nothing short of spectacular, with the hotel hallway itself becoming a prominent feature of the fear. The raw fear, panic, and violence are then depicted with unforgiving honesty, without resorting to the gratuitous gore that is so common in the genre.

With regards to performances, each of the main actors really manages to exhibit their character's fear and determination in the face of unimaginable horror. Julian Richings brings a sense of sympathetic mystery to his enigmatic character, while Carolina Bartczak and Yumiko Shaku portray the desperate reality of individuals trapped in a seemingly hopeless situation with remarkable conviction.

The movie Hall can best be described as a potent mix of atmospheric setting, terrifying premise, and suspenseful plot, making it a pulse-pounding experience. With engaging performances and an evocative, chilling atmosphere, it’s sure to appeal to fans of thoughtful, character-driven horror. It is a horror movie that takes its time with character development and builds atmosphere before releasing its full horror upon the viewer.