Pimeällä polulla / On Dark Paths

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FI 2014. Fiction. PC: New Dawn Oy. P+D+SC+M: Paul J. Helin. DP: Jari Iso-Markku. S: Aleksi Tegel. C: Pessi Kivilä (Risto), Oskari Katajisto (father), Minna Hämäläinen (mother), Marjatta Rinne (grandmother), Lasse Piironen (monster). 20 min
    Contact: paul.helin@newdawn.fi, www.newdawn.fi
    In Finnish with English subtitles by Kaisa Cullen.
    Tampere Film Festival (National Competition 11), Saturday, 7 March 2015

TFF: "On Dark Paths tells a story about an eight-year-old boy, Risto, whose mind has created a terrifying monster that creeps in the family’s house during the night. This time, when the monster forces its way into Risto’s room, Risto has no choice but to escape and run to the grandmother’s for safety on the other side of the forest. We then find out that the creature isn’t entirely a product of Risto’s imagination but also real flesh and blood. Risto must now gather the courage to stand up to the monster - and put an end to his nightmare."

AA:  A horror movie set in the countryside based on a trauma of the nuclear family.
    Paul J. Helin creates skillfully a mood of ominous foreboding in this film that has a professional touch. The cinematography and the lighting are fine and effective.
    Grandmother sees through the complacent facade and recommends family therapy. Little Risto sees a monster which, it turns out, is his alcoholic father. In the conclusion the only way to overcome the murderous monster is parricide.