Tribeca Film Festival – In writer/director Gabriel Bier Gislason‘s queer Danish horror romance Attachment, Josephine Park plays Maja, a has-been Danish actress. Maja desperately needs something new and exciting in her life. She finds it when she meets Leah (Ellie Kendrick), a young academic from London. The only problem is Leah’s overbearing, superstitious mother, Chana (Sofie Gråbøl). Gislason’s film is a captivating tale rooted in Jewish mysticism that’s also a warning about co-dependence.

Initially, we have an endearing story about a whirlwind romance. Reprising her role as an elf from a holiday show, Maja meets Leah at a library, as the former actress is about to read to children. The two hit it off immediately. Everything seems perfect until Leah suffers a seizure, causing a debilitating injury that returns her to London. Maja goes home with her and meets the ritual-obsessed Chana. This is a woman who keeps a bowl in her apartment that’s supposed to ward off demons. She also insists that Maja wear an amethyst necklace that brings good luck. Eventually, Maja is convinced that Chana really doesn’t want Leah to heal and instead wants to kill her. Meanwhile, Chana’s brother-in-law, Lev, runs an Orthodox Jewish bookstore, which Maja visits to learn more about Jewish culture, history, and folklore.

So much about this film works well, especially the pacing. Gislason spends sufficient time developing the relationship between Maja and Leah, while showing how much Maja desperately clings to the relationship because it’s really the only thing going well in her life. As the film progresses, its tone darkens compared to the initial love story. Further, all of the performances here are strong, especially Park and Gråbøl‘s, whose character is cloaked in mystery. For much of the runtime, it’s unclear if Chana truly has ill-intent or not. The film keeps its cards close to its chest, and it’s all the better for it.

The apartment setting creates a captivating cinematic universe, small as it may be. There’s something strange and unusual going on, especially once Maja discovers a map Chana keeps of Leah’s apartment, to the point she even arranged the furniture a certain way. The mother stays in the flat downstairs, but she never lets anyone in. When Maja tries to peek in, Chana slams the door. These interior scenes in Leah’s apartment feel claustrophobic, which adds to the possibility that her mom doesn’t want her to leave and will do anything to keep her there.

When the answers are eventually given, answers rooted in Jewish folklore, they do make sense regarding Leah’s odd behavior. The wait is worthwhile. The film is all the better for not spelling everything out immediately, and its ending is heart-wrenching.

Attachment is a well-written allegory about co-dependence steeped in Jewish folklore. What starts out as a charming story about a lesbian couple soon transitions into a sinister and powerful tale. This is a bold and unique possession movie, one that avoids the usual trappings and cliches of the subgenre.

7.5 Out of 10