Blurred Vision is a Danish thriller based on an original idea from lead actor Niklas Herskind. The film follows the story of a couple expecting their first child. Andre (Niklas Herskind) and Elisa (Ida Cæcilie Rasmussen) are in a fairly new relationship, having met six months prior. They move to Elisa’s remote hometown from a large city, and Andre has a harder time settling in.

Wanting to provide for his family, he starts a microbrewing business and enlists the help of a local named Hans (Nicolai Jørgensen). Around this time, Elisa’s mother, Martha (Dorte Højsted) imposes upon their relationship, assuring Andre that it’s best for all if she moves in during Elisa’s pregnancy.

During a routine checkup, a comment from the doctor leaves Andre with questions regarding Elisa’s past. The small amount of trust the couple has built begins to unravel at this point.  Secrets come to light, jeopardize their relationship further, and hidden threats to the family’s safety arise.

For a relatively short film, Blurred Vision leaves an impact. It’s a thrilling ride that starts as a slow burn, but ultimately gains speed and leaves the viewer in suspense.

The visual aspects of the film are very well done. In his quest to develop a noteworthy brew, Andre spends time in the local forests, searching for local ingredients. These outdoor scenes are some of the most pleasing to the eye, along with the more artistic shots of a fever dream-like state scattered throughout the film. There’s a dark and drab aesthetic with just enough color brought on by these scenes, and it makes for an excellent balance that lends to the atmosphere.

The actors all give believable performances, but Rasmussen is especially notable in her role as Elisa. In researching the film’s background, I found that she was actually pregnant while filming, and the scenes were shot over a nine-month span. This adds a hefty amount of authenticity to the film, as viewers see true physical changes to the character, and it’s likely that her mental state enhanced Rasmussen’s acting in the role. Because of the time span in the film, we also see real changes in the scenery as the seasons shift.

The first third of the film is a bit slow, but then it ramps up, and the tension snowballs, leading the viewer through exciting twists and turns. The overall theme in Blurred Vision relates to trust and will leave viewers with questions while watching and after the film is over. It leaves one wondering how much time is necessary to truly know someone in a relationship, and even after that time has passed, how do you know you can trust them? This story proves how we’ll never have the right answers to these questions. Trust can be a vulnerable state, leaving us open to internal and external threats we might not see coming.

While it’s a bit slow to start, and there’s some predictability in the storyline, ultimately Blurred Vision is impressive for an independent film with a small budget. It’s a creative film, and it’s obvious that much thought went into its development.

7 out of 10