LastingAware The greatest movie ever!

StunnaKrypto Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

SteinMo What a freaking movie. So many twists and turns. Absolutely intense from start to finish.

Brendon Jones It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

lonely-chaotic-soul The untold stories, the hidden side of the so-called modern societies. Intriguingly terrifying! However, why is it always about the Nazi? I'd really see a movie about other politic parties like the zionists for example.

nzswanny Of course, this wasn't the first film to prove that shock value can be done well, but it is not common for one to use it. Shock value is usually looked down upon for reasons I'm too dumb to understand, and I approve of shock value for reasons people are too smart to understand. Colonia is based on a shocking true story about a real-life cult and it's horrific beliefs, and although we don't usually see anything, implication's enough to shock viewers, especially considering the fact that you know it's a true story. It's not shocking content-wise like A Serbian Film, it's shocking atmosphere-wise like Requiem For A Dream. Of course, it's nowhere near as good as Requiem For A Dream, yet on it's own it stands on it's two feet and confidently speaks it's opinion, using truth to convince you. I wouldn't say the film's anything special, but you'll probably remember it for a while. I think the editing could of been a bit better, but otherwise it was good. Go watch it, I think you'll like it.

Nicole C This is a really well made film.It is impressive at being full-on creepy, with many thriller elements, but also shines the light of hope which teases the audience. It is hard to believe that communities like this exist around the world - even today, but are hidden from sight. As they say,"out of sight, out of mind". How do we prevent such communities from existing and gaining power when corruption is so abundant in many of these countries? It just gives me the chills and makes me feel so sad and helpless to know that this is real life. There is a great cast in this - looks like Emma Watson's name is coming up more often nowadays. Her and Bruhl have great chemistry on set, and are able to pull at the audience's heartstrings. What really sells the story though, is the expressions of Nyqvist. He sends chills through the screen with his cold stares and lack of empathy. Carey as well, does well as the harsh and unfeeling matron.However, it isn't really shown what Daniel was protesting against, or his motivation in doing so. We understand that both Daniel and Lena are foreigners, but how or why they came to Chile is a mystery. Additionally, the cinematography is great. There are quite a few scenes shot on a hand-held camera or that have unique angles and movement to them, and this goes well with the subject of the film. It helps to emphasize the desperation and panic that the characters feel in that particular moment. The visuals and color aesthetics serve well to compliment the film as well. With a lot of gray-scale and dark scenes, the movie takes on more of a thriller atmosphere. The screenplay and directing is great too, as filmmakers didn't explain things explicitly, but tended to show and imply things instead - involving the audience more by making them question what may be happening. Overall, a very creepy situation which was depicted impressively in this film.

TdSmth5 A Lufthansa stewardess arrives in Chile in the 70s. During street protests she sees her boyfriend on a platform next to some youth leader. She gets together with him. He makes posters for the leftist youngsters.When the military coup removes the socialist president, the boyfriend named Daniel, for some reason decides to go to the street with the girl, Lena, instead of staying home. There is unrest on the streets, the military/policy are rounding up people. Daniel decides to take pics and gets himself and Lena arrested. Everyone is taken to a stadium where a masked snitch starts picking out trouble-makers. Daniel gets picked out and is quickly put in an ambulance and driven away.Lena is eventually freed and finds out that Daniel was taken to Colonia Dignidad, some religious German community out in the country. So Lena decides to join them to rescue Daniel, who is indeed at the Colonia and is being tortured by the military to reveal his friends. He doesn't fold but instead pretends to be mentally challenged, so he gets a job on the Colonia assisting some metal worker at his shop.The Colonia is run by religious nut and homosexual pedophile Paul. He doesn't think much of women and claims to be able to smell their impure thoughts, actions, and lies. And he's actually pretty good at it.Lena life now is doing god's work--farming during days and peeling potatoes at night. Men and women are kept strictly separated. For months she doesn't see Daniel but eventually she does and they get together. Daniel has discovered a system of tunnels and underground rooms where the military interrogate and torture detainees. Their plan now is to escape not just the Colonia but Chile as well. But as it turns out, Paul is well-connected and his tentacles of power reach very high.What makes Colonia more interesting is that is based on reality. Of course to what extend the portrayal is realistic who knows. Unfortunately the dull, boring, and tedious life on the Colonia is all too realistically shown at length. For a good chunk of this movie nothing remotely interesting goes on. For the sake of realism the movie stays away from too much caricature. Paul could have been presented as some clownish nutcase, but he's not. In fact he's mostly absent in the movie as Lena has to deal with the somewhat cartoonish Gisela who's in charge of running the girls' quarters. The final act is very exciting though as our heroes are racing against the clock.