Amulet

Tomaz (Alec Secareanu) is living homeless in London working cash in hand as a labourer. At night he has terrible dreams. Flashbacks to a a war (Kosovo maybe, the year is vague) when he was younger. When his current refuge burns down, a nun (Imelda Staunton) finds him passed out with smoke inhalation in the street and ensures he gets to hospital.

Once he's well she finds him a place to stay with Magda (Carla Juri) in the decrepit old house where she looks after her invalid mother. All they ask is he helps out around the house.

No good will come of this.

CW: rape, body horror

Romola Garai really nails her first movie with a slow but creepy entry. Is urban folk horror a thing? Maybe she made it a thing.

The house is a decaying entity blooming with mould and every surface feels unclean. The two leads circle each other and mother, who we don't see for a while, is clearly not normal.

This is what urban fantasy is when the demons in the attic aren't easily conquered with violence and our actions follow us to haunt us. There's a great heavily vocal score and the contrast between the dim candlelit house and hyperreal forest of flashback gives it visual life.

Great, icky stuff, recommended 8/10.