NOCEBO (2022) Reviews of Eva Green horror – now with 4K trailer

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‘Sanity hangs by a thread’
Nocebo
is a 2022 horror film about a fashion designer suffering from a mysterious illness until a Filipino carer uses folk healing. Also known as The Curse

Directed by Lorcan Finnegan (Vivarium; Without Name) from a screenplay written by Garret Shanley (who also wrote Vivarium and Without Name). Produced by Brunella Cocchiglia and Emily Leo.

The Irish-Filipino movie stars Eva Green, Mark Strong, Chai Fonacier, Cathy Belton and Billie Gadsdon.

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Plot synopsis:
A fashion designer (Eva Green) suffers from a mysterious illness that confounds her doctors and frustrates her husband (Mark Strong) – until help arrives in the form of a Filipino nanny (Chai Fonacier) who uses traditional folk healing to reveal a horrifying truth…

Release date:
Nocebo had its world premiere at the Sitges Film Festival in Spain on October 14, 2022.
In the US, RLJE Films will release Nocebo theatrically on November 4, 2022. Digital and On-Demand (VOD) releases will follow on November 22, 2022.
In the UK, Vertigo Releasing will release Nocebo in cinemas in early December 2022.

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Reviews:
Nocebo is a visually stunning film that will leave viewers feeling disoriented and unnerved […] The film’s final act is exceptionally chaotic and unsettling as Christine’s mental state deteriorates. Finnegan’s innovative visuals are usually the primary selling point for his stories, so it’s heartening to see the director trying new techniques here rather than relying purely on what’s worked in the past.” All Horror

“The reveal that Nocebo eventually builds to is perhaps not as shocking or surprising as the filmmakers intended, but the journey toward it is certainly thought-provoking. The film is full of interesting ideas and eventually functions as a somewhat scathing critique of Western imperialism. Green is good at playing a charismatic and headstrong career woman on the surface who’s actually a fragile perfectionist underneath.” 7 out of 10, All Ones That Got Away

“Director Lorcan Finnegan (Vivarium) tackles abuse and exploitation through a plot laden with smoke and mirrors. Not to mention, a few red herrings. Creating a film which rests somewhere between psychological thriller and folk horror. Mixing the tradition with the modern to create a story which is cuttingly on the nose. Nocebo is a fraught and acerbic slice of genre cinema.” Backseat Mafia

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Nocebo shares many of the shortcomings that kept Vivarium from greatness, but there’s much here to appreciate, including an original take on menace and discomfort, and performances are always compelling, adding to a sense of threat the production occasionally struggles to maintain.” 3 out of 5, Blu-ray.com

“One of the most interesting aspects of Nocebo is in fact its attempt not to stop at simple fright, but to develop a broader reflection on capitalism and its devastating effects. The superficiality of Western man, his greed and the exploitation of work are at the roots of an evil that spreads like a curse. Christine is the perpetrator – to some extent not entirely aware – of an inequitable and inhuman productive paradigm, with disastrous effects.” Il Cineocchio

Nocebo is a mystery wherein all involved could very well be a villain masquerading, the tension coming from each individual discovery. Thankfully, Green, Strong, and Fonacier each possess the chops to enthrall us all, no matter how presumptively good or nefarious we think they are in any given moment. Cutting though the script is, strong though the performances are, what solidifies the disquieting nature of Nocebo are the special effects used to terrify.” 4 out of 5, Elements of Madness

“Utilizing medical practices as a delusionary weapon is truly a unique horror/thriller convention that Finnegan wields efficiently, and the performances of Green, Strong, and Fonacier create a triad of characters caught in a battle of wits. The movie’s conclusion may not be what you’re looking for, but Nocebo certainly has at least one fresh idea to contribute to the horror/thriller genre.” 3 out of 4 stars, Film Festival Today

” …the misdirections are easy to see, and even at 97 minutes, Nocebo sometimes feels stretched, leaving viewers waiting for the inevitable reveal. But the social horror is impactful in caring about these characters and the unacceptable circumstances on display. Chai Fonacier is also in complete control of Diana’s character, measured and nuanced, excelling at both dramatic and terror beats.” 3 out of 5, Flickering Myth

“Finnegan plays with perspective in an intriguingly tricky way here. From the start, the story seems to belong to Christine […] There’s a strong sense of mood and uncertainty here, which initially suggests we should feel unsettled in sympathy or empathy with Christine. As the truth behind Nocebo becomes clearer, though, that anxious feeling shifts focus and becomes imbued with a sense of melancholy doom.” 3 out of 4, Mark Reviews Movies

” …director Lorcan Finnegan keeps the film under 2 hours which is a blessing these days when too many movies overstay their welcome and become exhausting (I’m looking at you, Terrifier 2!). She Will is a better example of a horror film with style, substance and a wonderful lead performance […] Nocebo is atmospheric and creepy, but emotionally hollow, undercooked and low on scares.” The NYC Movie Guru

” …it reduces a lot of complex issues to a simplistic good vs evil level to fit the filmmaker’s narrative. That’s reinforced by making Christine and Felix easy targets for this criticism, making it all feel very heavy-handed. And that’s too bad because when it sticks to its folk horror elements, Nocebo is an effective film with some genuinely creepy sequences including one involving a giant tick and a CPAP unit that’s quite horrifying.” 2.5 out of 5, Voices from the Balcony

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