Cadaver is a 2020 Norwegian horror film set during a postapocalyptic famine where a peculiar hotel dinner show draws crowds. Unfortunately, one family discovers they’ll pay much more than the price of admission.
Written and directed by Jarand Herdal, the Motion Blur Films production stars Gitte Witt, Thomas Gullestad, Thorbjørn Harr and Maria Grazia Di Meo.
Plot:
In the starving aftermath of a nuclear disaster, Leonora, Jacob and their daughter Alice are on the edge of survival. One day, the local hotel invites survivors to attend a theatre play, with a meal included, as a charitable effort to help those in need. Left with no choice, the family of three decide to go to the hotel, where the director, Mathias, introduces the entire hotel as the stage.
Attendees are given masks to help separate them from actors, but the play takes an eerie turn when audience members start to disappear. The line between reality and theatre quickly gets blurred, until Alice disappears in front of Leo and Jacob, and there’s no longer room for doubt; something is very wrong with Mathias’ hotel…
Reviews:
” …the film’s eagerness to descend into metaphor and cliché all in service of a development that is easy enough to figure out ahead of time squanders some of the goodwill […] Written and directed by Jarand Herdal, Cadaver feels like the work of a promising filmmaker flexing some underused muscles.” Ready Steady Cut!
“Cadaver does have a few good moments but they’re drowned out by the inevitable wave of mediocrity hanging over this one. The plot twists are predictable, the characters lack charisma and all of this combines to create a very forgettable experience. This is one hotel you won’t be returning to in a hurry.” The Review Geek
“Cadaver is a suggestive fable about struggling to be hopeful despite, well, everything. It’s also a little too monotonous and uninvolving to be of great solace right now. Thankfully, Cadaver does have an effectively chilly ambience, which helps a little whenever writer/director Jarand Herdal’s scenario is as obvious as Mathias.” RogerEbert.com
“The film offers a beautiful production design and filmmaking as well as a sublime cinematography. We only regret that the film goes too fast on certain aspects of the story and the presence of certain inconsistencies. Nevertheless, we quickly deep into the universe of the film and had a great time!” What’s on Friday
“Cadaver is the classic case of a trailer being far better than the actual film. For while you will be led to believe that in the next scene, the next reveal, the next twist, things could get better, it doesn’t. Cadaver remains lukewarm and brings you no reason to stick around out of hopes it could improve.” Wherever I Look
Cast and characters:
Gitte Witt … Leonora
Thomas Gullestad … Jacob
Thorbjørn Harr … Mathias
Maria Grazia Di Meo … Kathrine
Gjermund Gjesme … Jens
Tuva Olivia Remman … Alice
Jonatan Rodriguez … David
Kingsford Siayor … Lars
Trine Wiggen … Rakel
Technical details:
86 minutes
Original title:
Kadaver
