LFO (2013) User Reviews

Low Frequency Oscillation?

[dchfrs · 7/10 · 30 August 2015]

I just watched LFO yesterday, and boy was I satisfied. At the time of writing this review there were only two other user reviews - which I agree with; this Sci-Fi film is dark, comedic, serious, and a tad psychologically disturbing at times (not so much that I would tell anyone to stay away). I wouldn't really consider this a dark comedy despite its comedic moments, since I felt a more serious tone to the movie.

I think the plot is well described and the other reviews encompass a lot of what I feel so I'm not going to elaborate on any of those. I really just want to say that I gave LFO a 7 because that is what I feel most people would agree with, but after viewing it I personally feel it's an 8.

It kept my attention while I was trying to determine the fate of Robert, Simon, and Clara, but I walked away from this movie feeling as though I was hypnotized myself. I couldn't stop thinking about LFO for a good hour after completion, which typically wins me over.

Watch this movie. Hopefully it's still on Netflix when you read this review, but it's totally worth paying for.

Longed-For Originality

[robinski34 · 7/10 · 28 June 2014]

Actually, LFO is an acronym for Low Frequency Oscillation, but it is also the delightfully Heath-Robinson story of the excellent Patrik Karlson's troubled acoustician and his increasingly obsessive behaviour. Writer/ director Antonio Tublén (who also wrote the electronic score) has fashioned a fine morality tale that (as good writing dictates) is plausible after the initial conceit is accepted. The film's tone is cold, it is almost emotionless and often claustrophobic, but this only multiplies its effectiveness in provoking the viewer's contemplation of increasingly challenging events. Karlson is ably supported by forthright performances from Izabella Jo Tschig and Per Löfberg as his neighbours, and Ahnna Rasch as his wife. In a landscape of modern cinema in danger of becoming dominated by endless high-rise multiplex pap, it's refreshing to discover such oases of intelligent and thoughtful film-making as LFO, and you owe it to yourself to see this film, if only to recharge the batteries of your Bay-sh-t detector.

A Trippy but accessible sic-fi dark comedy

[Ore-Sama · 7/10 · 14 March 2015]

This 2013 scandanavian sci-fi film centers on Robert Nord, a formerly powerless man in an unsatisfying life, who discovers the exact frequency needed to control people's minds. He can give orders to their subconscious, from what to do to how to feel and what they even notice. Testing this out on his neighbors, he continuously experiments with this new power, while also using it to deflect law enforcement and a man who wants to know the secret for himself.

The story is told in a non linear fashion, with scenes often put out of order, to where we'll see something begin but cut away and go to another part of the story, before we see it's result later on. Don't be scared off by this, however. The film is easy to follow, you simply need to pay attention. In addition, the film is very cold and distant, using none of the usual techniques to manipulate audience reaction, but simply allowing things to play out. This works well for the dry sense of humor the film has, much of it centered around how both dark and absurd Robert's experiments become, which needless to say fall very short of what most rational people would consider moral. The only judgements made, however, are by the audience alone. However even with his immoral action, it's easy to feel some slight sympathy for Robert, a mentally ill, somewhat pathetic individual who at times seems to have his heart in the right place, but whose actions never lead to consequences good for anyone, not even himself. LFO: The movie finds that perfect balance, between conveying the philosophical quandaries of it's subject matter as well as the innate comedy of it, which come together especially perfectly in the film's conclusion.

I don't want to say too much more, because it's better to go into this knowing very little. If what I wrote sounds even a little intriguing to you, chances are this film is right up your alley and you should seek it out immediately.

Fascinating and tempting, but not always tasty

[aimanwm · 7/10 · 24 June 2018]

There's a decadent fantasy here and the audience might just want to relate or vicariously share the main character's enjoyment of his power. And the film is also just original and quirky enough that I was tempted to go up to eight stars. However, it's also a bit messy and at times unsavory and, well, just isn't going for eight starts. It set out to be a full-value, I-am-what-I-am, dirty-secret seven.

Novel idea and interesting initially but badly developed

[grantss · 6/10 · 29 July 2017]

Robert is a lonely audio engineer. After much research he manages to develop a sound frequency that immediately puts anyone who hears it into an hypnotic trance and makes them totally bend to his commands. He immediately starts using the device to influence his neighbours, initially sparingly but then constantly. What could possibly go wrong?

Novel idea. Pretty much plays to our fantasies of having some sort of magical power that allows us to control others. The scene- setting and the initial use of the device was quite interesting and even amusing at times.

A pity then that the plot doesn't really go anywhere. With everything nicely set up for something profound or, at least, entertaining, the movies drifts from about the half-way mark. Instead of building on the start, we pretty much have the same scenarios being played out over and over again.

The movie does ultimately find a direction, but it's a random one, one that is not developed or justified at all by what came before. Quite bizarre and random ending.

Worth seeing for the first half. Second half is disappointing.

Concept is better than movie

[bgar-80932 · 6/10 · 1 January 2019]

The movie isn't bad and has a great concept. The idea that you can mind control someone essentially with sounds is intriguing. Unfortunately the main guy used that pretty much the whole time to have sex with the neighbor and have the neighbors clean his house. Seems like there could have been a more interesting use of this. At the end he does basically take over the world but you just hear about that you don't see it in the film. The very end is good though as he had mind controlled himself to act as a god and it made his decision at the end be something he never would have done.

he uses them

[killercharm · 6/10 · 14 March 2022]

A creepy unsettling dive into the world of a man who can do anything he wants to people and they don't know it. We see how he starts out low, catering to low desires and then things get bent. One of the creepy elements that goes a long way in this flick is the old fashioned equipment and rendition of the science. A self-centered self-serving creep of a sound scientist finds himself alone when his family dies in a car crash. He hits on the secret sounds to make anyone his slave...and then he uses them.

Quirky and original

[iwatkin · 10/10 · 23 September 2015]

Wow! Only three reviews for such a terrific movie. I'm shocked an dismayed that subtitles are such a turn-off.

LFO (an abbreviation for Low Frequency Oscillation) is wonderful, claustrophobic tale of a man who discovers the exact frequencies needed to hypnotize and ultimately control people (including himself). It was reminiscent of Sound of Noise (2010) in its oddness and its relationship with music (of a sort) as a means to telling a story.

(Almost) the entire movie takes place in Robert's house, and it's wonderful to see how such scenery can be used to great effect and actually add to the cold, emotionless claustrophobic feeling this movie exudes.

The things that Robert does are truly awful, but it's hard not to feel a certain glee as he never gets caught and his newfound superpowers make him omnipotent in a world where he was previously impotent.

An Antidote to Hollywood pap

[markgibsonuk-04768 · 8/10 · 27 February 2018]

Delightfully disturbing examination of human fragility that questions sanity, compassion and self-absorption . The 'sci-fi' vehicle gives a wonderful scope for all the main characters to express their individual pecadillos whilst opening up more global issues . Plenty of humour and pathos and a total lack of schmaltzy sentimentality raise this above the regular propaganda and into a truly thought provoking piece. Excellent acting , mood and score just add to a novel and well expressed plot. A joy to watch.

Wow!

[merger78 · 10/10 · 2 June 2019]

After Zoo I needed to see this and I wasn't disappointed! Cleary this director and writer has a unique voice. Not sure which one I like the best. Both are great. This one darker and more sinister but still with the same black humor as Zoo. Love it!