Hatching: Film Review
I heard really intriguing reactions to Hatching after it premiered at Sundance earlier this year so I couldn’t resist checking out this Finnish creature feature, directed by Hanna Bergholm.
The horror follows Tinja (Siiri Solalinna), a 12-year-old girl who is facing immense pressure from her mum (Sophia Heikkilä) to be a better gymnast and get into a coveted competition. One day, Tinja discovers a bird’s egg in the woods and she takes it home and looks after it – eventually the egg hatches and reveals an unexpected and horrifying creature.
At first, it seems like Tinja just has this freaky secret pet but the creature soon develops sinister desires and sets its sights on those who have wronged Tinja in some way. The movie gets progressively darker as the creature evolves and it becomes clear they have some sort of deep connection.
Hatching is a strange indie horror that won’t do it for everyone. I found the movie quite scary – the creature is revolting to look at and the way it moves creeped me out. Plus, you can’t help but feel unsettled every time the evil beast is on screen because it’s so freaky and repulsive and you’ll also feel tense when you’re waiting for it to attack its next victim.
The movie also has an unexpectedly odd and interesting family dynamic. Tinja’s mum presents this image of the perfect happy family on social media and it’s so far from the truth. Her mother is clearly the source of Tinja’s stress and trauma – she forces her to practice the uneven bars until her hands bleed – and is so brazen and open about her infidelities.
I was stunned to learn that Solalinna is a newcomer and this is her first movie. It demands so much, both emotionally and physically, and she nails it. Heikkilä is compelling as the perfectionist mother who has issues bubbling under her spotless surface.
This Finnish horror won’t float everyone’s boat but I thought it was a well-executed idea with a gross-out creature and plenty of tense, horrifying moments.
In cinemas from Friday 16th September