Marlene: A Horror Tale is a film from Germany presented in German with English subtitles. After a difficult separation, Marlene (Cordula Zielonka) wants a fresh start so she moves to Berlin. All is well at first when she settles into her new job and makes new friends in the city. One of them she meets is her neighbour Flo (Thomas Clemens) from upstairs un her apartment complex. She discovers he’s not exactly what he seems after learning his true intentions.

Written and directed by Andreas Resch, an eerie sense of dread is established through not just visuals but sound effects as well. He does a great job of making an uneasy atmosphere skillfully weaving a web of an ever-growing horrifying situation. The film takes its time to slow down enough for people’s reactions to sink in making them feel more impactful and therefore creating emotional connections to them. The pacing is uneven though. It could’ve used some refinement because certain plot points feel forced. When a chain of events doesn’t flow organically it puts kinks in it that test my suspension of disbelief.

Zielonka is so convincing as Marlene when it comes to displaying a wide range of emotions. In the beginning, she’s exasperated yearning to start over yet afraid of being on her own, then she comes around showing visible signs of happiness sinking in while she makes new friends and adjusts to her new job. Lastly, by the midway point, she is utterly terrified of the horrifying situation she’s stuck in. These stages of her emotional mind state fluctuate remarkably while she transitions through them. Without the right actress in the role, the film wouldn’t work so well. Clemens as Flo is very good at being charming at first before slowly becoming an intimidating figure over time. His transformation from one to the other is astonishingly impactful because of the believability of it all. He’s downright scary when he’s in full villain mode.

Overall, Marlene: A Horror Tale isn’t for everyone, some might not have the patience for a story set at such a slow burn. Certain areas of the plot could have used more development because several questions get raised that go unanswered. As far as horror elements go, the film takes its time before they come into play but the payoff is well-earned. It’s a grounded, realistic allegory for the real dangers women face daily. That’s the scariest thing about Marlene: A Horror Tale, this can happen to anyone. Granted, I’ll never know what it’s like to be a woman but it touches on themes of trust, vulnerability, bondage without consent, claustrophobia, seclusion, and starting over after tragedy strikes which are universally relatable. This makes the protagonist empathetic to anyone. I’d recommend this to fans of Don’t Breathe or 1BR. And remember, it’s one thing to love thy neighbour but it can be a bad thing when it’s taken too far.

You can stream the film here!