Sweden has never been a slouch in artistic output, and this is only further proven by Yellow Veil’s haunting new film. Directed by Frida Kempff, and based on Johan Theorin’s novel of the same name, Knocking is a Swedish psychological thriller that focuses on a range of topics through the lens of trauma, and gaining trust from people you know, just to name a few.

Knocking, or Knackningar in its original Swedish, follows Molly, who attempts a fresh start after an obscure traumatic incident at the top of the film. Her rebuilt life seems rather nondescript until she is kept up at night when she hears loud, you guessed it, knocking on her apartment’s ceiling. The film then follows Molly desperately searching for the source of the knocking, gaining no support from her neighbors or any authorities, testing trust and Molly’s own mental state. She deals with this mystery alone, all while also dealing with her mental trauma by herself as well.

Molly is brought to life by Cecilia Milocco, whose intense performance is easily one of the highlights of Knocking. Her character feels authentic, and very, very complicated as she is forced to add the knocking problem to her already heavy circumstances.

She interacts with a well-rounded set of supporting actors, who all contribute to the whodunit element. The film goes in several directions, but a constant is Molly’s persistence in proving her truth while facing several moving obstacles. These take the form of the indifference and doubt of those around her, as well as her own shortcomings. Her experiences at times felt claustrophobic and apprehensive, alike to films such as The Woman in the Window or The Invisible Man. Knocking’s consistency in crafting this stressful puzzle is outstanding, and the viewer can’t help but root for her despite the chaos and I felt there with her until the end of the film.

The cinematic mood ranges from high-energy to downright bleak, taking its time showing scenes of love or violence throughout the film. These scenes on paper seem in stark contrast to one another, but they feel coherent and the diverse storylines were seamlessly woven into one another. Music and set design made scenes feel exciting and nervous, but they also felt homey and ultimately, empowering.

Knocking, while a masterpiece mystery, is also an interesting look into different social topics, such as LGBT+ relationships and treatment surrounding mental health. I’m grateful as a viewer to see a film that takes care in approaching these topics of social justice, even if they reveal the truth that we need more work in all of them.   Knocking’s vast approach and inclusive messaging ultimately felt organic, and the story was better off for it.

Knocking gives audiences a tense, meaningful experience, and its powerful treatment of difficult topics is hopefully a showing of the future of cinema around the world. Messages of justice and empowerment will never run dry, and I’m excited to see future work from the filmmakers as they continue the mission.

8 out of 10