Sensoria

Sensoria is a gripping 2015 horror-drama film that hails from Sweden. Directed by Christian Hallman and co-written by Hallman and Mans Thunberg, the film offers an intriguing blend of classic haunted house narratives and evocative psychological drama, anchored by a compelling performance from its lead actress, Lanna Ohlsson.

The plot primarily revolves around Caroline Menard (played by Lanna Ohlsson), a woman in her late 30s, reeling from a series of personal tragedies which include a failed career, loss of a child, and a broken relationship. Seeking a fresh start and desperate to shed her past, she decides to venture into a new chapter of her life by shifting into an old apartment in a decrepit building in modern Stockholm.

Life in the building, which is populated by an eerie silence and visibly disturbing neighbors, gets under Caroline's skin from the very start. She befriends a young girl named Emma (Norah Andersen), who lives in the building, but it soon becomes clear that Emma isn’t everything that she seems to be. Caroline also comes in contact with a mysterious woman Vanessa (Alida Morberg), whose influence on Caroline's life begins to border the uncanny.

Unexplained occurrences start happening; disturbing noises fill the night, her personal belongings vanish and reappear, and she's haunted by shadows that seem to seep into her apartment from the building's unsightly corners. Caroline’s fruitless attempts to explain the unexplainable start giving the narrative an eerie and unsettling undertone. Initially skeptical, Caroline gradually descends into a harrowing journey to uncover the building's dark past.

Lanna Ohlsson gives a captivating performance as the vulnerable and distressed Caroline, masterfully portraying the creeping fear and mounting desperation. The subtle changes in her behaviour, as her determination to uncover the truth beats against her dread, are hauntingly displayed.

Norah Andersen and Alida Morberg add richness to the plot with their ominous presence. Andersen's portrayal of young Emma is striking—sweet yet mysterious—and Morberg does a great job as Vanessa in her incalculable contribution to Caroline's chilling experiences.

Hallman does a commendable job at utilizing the eeriness of imagery and sound design in Sensoria. The movie leverages the isolation and uncanniness of its setting — the drab building with its decrepit structure and tinted corridors. The lonely creaks of her apartment door and the hushed whispers that drift through the desolate hallways make way for an effective soundscape, combining to create an atmosphere of unnerving tension.

The cinematography by Johan-Magnus Melin often feels like a character of its own. Caroline’s claustrophobic apartment and the grotesque architecture of the building, captured through careful angles and an effective use of perspective, only augments the sense of dread and foreboding. Melin also does a fine job at visualizing Stockholm’s icy interiors, further mirroring Caroline’s cold and desolate state of mind.

Sensoria may be a slow-burn for those expecting traditional jump scares or blood-curdling horror sequences. Instead, it delves into an atmospheric exploration of terror, carefully building its universe of suspense using the classic tropes of gothic horror: ominous settings, an intricate plot, and compelling character work. It plays with the complexities of the human mind, uses psychological terror as its prime element, and hinges on the subversion of reality, all the while ensuring that the viewers remain invested in Caroline’s haunting journey.

The film is equally about the journey of self-discovery and the confrontation of personal demons as it is about external, supernatural horror. Beneath the surface level narrative, Sensoria wrestles with themes of grief, loneliness, trauma, and the tangled complexities of the human psyche. It throws light on how our insecurities, our past, and our internalized horrors can manifest themselves into our realities.

In summary, Sensoria is a chilling and atmospheric horror film that uses the unnerving silence and shadows of an old apartment building to create a compelling narrative about personal trauma and supernatural horror. The performances, the evocative atmosphere, and the disturbing narrative combine to make Sensoria a must-watch for those who enjoy psychological horror, suspense, and supernatural thrillers. Prepare yourself for an unearthly drama and get ready to delve into an exploration of the scariest corners of the human mind.