Missing the streaming of the film when it appeared on FrightFest, this has been one of the main titles that I missed from the event which I've wanted to see. Signing up for a pass to the online Cine-Excess Horror film festival, I was happily surprised to find the film also being hosted at that event, leading to me finally witnessing the hunt.
View on the film:
Revealing in discussions that it took a decade to get made (with two years of bad weather delaying location filming) and also that she has just started at a professional drama school, the lack of a trained background, gives Billur Melis Koc debut film performance as Ayse an incredible rawness. Within the long silent passages of Ayse in the woods, they are given sound by Ayse's expressive face being cast in the cold eyed focus for revenge, which criss-crosses with shredded nerves from the continued threat of a honor killing.
Meeting Ayse after her marriage has ended and she is with a new partner, the screenplay by co-writer/(with Deniz Cuylan) director Emre Akay cuts the lean Horror thrills with a forensic examination on the real life horror of honor killing.
The writers make the subject one which Ayse can't even escape from in her dreams, that are haunted by her dad saying she will be murdered for bringing "Shame" on the family, only to wake up and find her would-be killers are bringing their cousin along,who thanks to being under age,they plan to use as a scapegoat on the cops if they get caught.
Striking back at a male population entirely consisting of snarling misogynistic murderers, the writers successfully aim at white-knuckle thrills in the woodland battle extended set-piece, via Ayse picking up her skills bit by bit,and transforming from nervous rough and tumble take-downs,into a hardened battle warrior.
Offering a taste of freedom in the final act, the writers deliver a rich final twist draining all hope of Ayse getting a easy ride to a new life, by spurring on an ending which leaves a open wound.
Dragging all the cameras they had up to the woods and into a huge cave (which had a invisible wall inside and a huge temperature drop) director Akay joins Ayse with a truly immerse atmosphere sprung from ultra-stylised wirecams,gimbals and easyrigs shots gliding across the beautiful real location and up close to Ayse launching a attack. Contrasting the backdrop beauty, Akay unleashes blistering close-ups on the avenging kills as Ayse fights to become the hunter.
View on the film:
Revealing in discussions that it took a decade to get made (with two years of bad weather delaying location filming) and also that she has just started at a professional drama school, the lack of a trained background, gives Billur Melis Koc debut film performance as Ayse an incredible rawness. Within the long silent passages of Ayse in the woods, they are given sound by Ayse's expressive face being cast in the cold eyed focus for revenge, which criss-crosses with shredded nerves from the continued threat of a honor killing.
Meeting Ayse after her marriage has ended and she is with a new partner, the screenplay by co-writer/(with Deniz Cuylan) director Emre Akay cuts the lean Horror thrills with a forensic examination on the real life horror of honor killing.
The writers make the subject one which Ayse can't even escape from in her dreams, that are haunted by her dad saying she will be murdered for bringing "Shame" on the family, only to wake up and find her would-be killers are bringing their cousin along,who thanks to being under age,they plan to use as a scapegoat on the cops if they get caught.
Striking back at a male population entirely consisting of snarling misogynistic murderers, the writers successfully aim at white-knuckle thrills in the woodland battle extended set-piece, via Ayse picking up her skills bit by bit,and transforming from nervous rough and tumble take-downs,into a hardened battle warrior.
Offering a taste of freedom in the final act, the writers deliver a rich final twist draining all hope of Ayse getting a easy ride to a new life, by spurring on an ending which leaves a open wound.
Dragging all the cameras they had up to the woods and into a huge cave (which had a invisible wall inside and a huge temperature drop) director Akay joins Ayse with a truly immerse atmosphere sprung from ultra-stylised wirecams,gimbals and easyrigs shots gliding across the beautiful real location and up close to Ayse launching a attack. Contrasting the backdrop beauty, Akay unleashes blistering close-ups on the avenging kills as Ayse fights to become the hunter.