THE RED SPIDER (Czerwony pajak) (2015) - ♦♦♦♦

Directed by - Marcin Koszalka

Written by - Marcin Koszalka, Lukasz M. Maciejewski, Marta Szreder

Starring - Filip Plawiak, Adam Woronowicz

"The fiction feature debut of esteemed documentarian and celebrated cinematographer MARCIN KOSZALKA. THE RED SPIDER is a DOSTOEVSKY like examination of the figure of the serial killer, simultaneously timeless and complete despite its precise cultural context. 

Krakow in the sixties is represented as a desolate city heavily marked by the shadow of the Communist rule. This is no place for a young man to follow his dreams and cherish ambitions, as shown by the leading young character of the film, who accidentally discovers the true identity of the titular serial killer who is terrorizing the town, and for whom he develops a strange and worrying fascination. 

The non-judgemental presentation with which KOSZALKA provokes the viewer from start to finish is conveyed by the cast's rigid performances, while its atmosphere is intensified by the controlled pacing and commendable work of cinematography, made of meticulous camera movements and dark tones that purposefully essentially keep the viewer at a distance and portray the film's events, as well as its scenes of sudden and systematic violent brutality, in a disarming factual and emotionless way."

Drama, Poland/Czech Republic/Slovakia