The premise was very intriguing and, let's get this out of our way right now, the lack of gore throughout most of the movie was actually an interesting and refreshing choice.
Unfortunately the positives end pretty much there... The story plods along with nothing really happening, besides family members arguing about "what to do" after the father's untimely demise. The needed ritual to keep the family's eating habits going is much talked about but there's nothing clear about it, and the little we're hinted about in the rather confusing finale is far from satisfying.
Then there's the cookie-cutter social message about poor people struggling in a cold, heartless world, but it's left at a couple of generic shots to the middle-class or to the police (cue a completely gratuitous offer of a very underage prostitute to one of the cops who's after the cannibals, a non-sequitur thrown in just in case the general angsty feel of the movie wasn't heavy-handed enough to get the point across).
As said, even the climax feels rushed, underdeveloped and leaves so many questions unanswered, while still retaining the "or is it..." cliché open ending every dreadful horror movie has.
Bottom line: as a horror movie it's sub-standard on every possible account. As a social drama, it skims over some interesting points and premises, but none of them is adequately with the required insight.
Frankly, I feel this movie gets so much attention because it's a non-Hollywood production AND it fits all the criteria for Artsy Film Festival bait.
Unfortunately the positives end pretty much there... The story plods along with nothing really happening, besides family members arguing about "what to do" after the father's untimely demise. The needed ritual to keep the family's eating habits going is much talked about but there's nothing clear about it, and the little we're hinted about in the rather confusing finale is far from satisfying.
Then there's the cookie-cutter social message about poor people struggling in a cold, heartless world, but it's left at a couple of generic shots to the middle-class or to the police (cue a completely gratuitous offer of a very underage prostitute to one of the cops who's after the cannibals, a non-sequitur thrown in just in case the general angsty feel of the movie wasn't heavy-handed enough to get the point across).
As said, even the climax feels rushed, underdeveloped and leaves so many questions unanswered, while still retaining the "or is it..." cliché open ending every dreadful horror movie has.
Bottom line: as a horror movie it's sub-standard on every possible account. As a social drama, it skims over some interesting points and premises, but none of them is adequately with the required insight.
Frankly, I feel this movie gets so much attention because it's a non-Hollywood production AND it fits all the criteria for Artsy Film Festival bait.