Nocturne (2020)

Nocturne (2020) is an American horror film not to be confused with Stephen Shimek’s Nocturne (2016).

As soon as the film started, I thought to myself, ‘Now that’s art!’ We see a violinist playing from behind. We see her reflection in the window opposite her. However, it is filmed and staged in such a way that you can hardly see the violin in the reflection. It’s like a ghost playing an invisible instrument. Then you hear the striking of a clock and the musician freezes. She walks towards a white wall and the colour suddenly turns golden. But then a great tragedy occurs… before the credits roll.

In the credits, we hear virtuoso piano playing and at the same time we see very young children also playing the piano. This gives the illusion that they are very good players, but we quickly realise that they are not playing what we hear at all.

So much for this incredible intro!

So, I see that this film wasn’t really appreciated. And yet, I liked it.

I read this: “It’s no secret that, from Suspiria to Black Swan, the strict environment of a prestigious institution setting artistic excellence as the sole goal for its students’ success has always been perfectly suited to the various registers of horror, resulting in cinematic masterpieces that are still remembered today. In keeping with this tradition, it was only logical that Nocturne, the third feature film in the Welcome to the Blumhouse anthology, would attract a little more attention than its counterparts when their release was announced.”

That’s quite well explained! Black Swan is from 2010, by the way.

It is the first feature film by Zu Quirke, who also wrote the screenplay. The film was produced by Blumhouse Productions exclusively for Amazon Prime Video as part of the eight-film anthology Welcome to the Blumhouse. It goes without saying that over the years, Blumhouse Productions has established itself as a sure bet for horror films, and this film confirms that once again.

For me, Nocturne is a successful film, and you don’t need to appreciate classical music or the piano to succumb to the depth of the story. Two twin sisters, both virtuosos on the instrument, are attending a prestigious music school and preparing to take the highly coveted final exam at the end of the year, when one of them, perhaps the more introverted of the two, comes across an ‘evil’ book. The story doesn’t really fall into the fantasy or horror genres; it stays on the edge of reality, without overdoing it, and exaggerates the twins’ personalities. I got caught up in the story and was hooked on the competition, while enjoying the progress of both sisters’ performances. It’s a captivating story thanks to a strong script and beautiful direction.

It’s certainly tricky to classify this feature film as horror or even thriller. I wasn’t quite sure what I was getting myself into. I rarely watch trailers. I sometimes start watching a film without knowing whether it’s a crime drama, a thriller or a horror film. In this case, it was for the pleasure of continuing to watch Sydney Sweeney’s filmography.

Nocturne is not a horror film for teenagers, but a psychological thriller, mysterious and suspenseful, which plays on obvious subtlety. Well directed and well acted, it transports us into a certain vision of hell: jealousy. I wasn’t bored for a single moment, despite the lack of pace! It’s not a ridiculous Italian giallo, and that’s a good thing! A lot of thought and writing went into this film.

The music therefore plays a significant role. Personally, I am not averse to classical music, fortunately. It is omnipresent and gives the film its character. In addition, during certain scenes, we are also treated to more offbeat, even psychedelic music. This really brings out the personalities of the protagonists.

I liked the rivalry between the two sisters. The actresses chosen are truly excellent. Sydney Sweeney, known for her role in Euphoria (2019), gives another great performance. She manages to capture our attention. Her twin sister for the occasion, Madison Iseman, who appeared in Goosebumps 2 (2018), and the two Jumanji films (2017 & 2019), is no slouch either. I was just as impressed and delighted by her performance. This feuding duo adds spice to the film.

The film flows rather well. The story is easy to follow thanks to its step-by-step structure. It’s simple and keeps your attention throughout. It’s slow without being long, and the actors are good. The direction is good, but something is missing to make it an excellent film.

However, this doesn’t prevent you from noticing what’s wrong when you take a step back. In particular, the narrative is a little shaky. In fact, in the end, we are given very little explanation as to ‘why’. The key element of the diary is thrown out there without ever really finding a convincing explanation. But this is a bit of a change from other films, which always have the same explanations, such as cults, voodoo, or curses following a murder or massacre.

Once again, the most demanding viewers will not get their money’s worth. There are always those who will stupidly say, ‘Really? Is that horror? There’s not even any gore!’ They will just say that it is a bad supernatural horror film that is more like a drama or psychological film. As a result, fans of supernatural thrillers may fully appreciate it.

In fact, the atmosphere tends to take precedence over pure horror. I might have liked to have seen some stronger scenes to really be struck by the terror.

In conclusion:

A very pleasant surprise! You become completely immersed in this hypnotic and captivating film. The images and saturation of yellow and red colours (the black sun), as well as the use of classical and electronic music, contribute greatly to this effect. The casting of the lead actress is excellent: she is enigmatic and unsettling, but also ingenuous when she seems driven by forces she does not understand. Her physical appearance and certain scenes are clearly reminiscent of Brian De Palma’s Carrie and the two versions of Suspiria (2018). An unsettling strangeness accompanies the viewer throughout the film and takes hold until the very disturbing double final scene…