Baatar Batsukh is a cinematographer making his directorial debut with the Mongolian horror film Aberrance, which he also lensed. The movie is rich in beautifully framed shots and loaded with visual style, bolstering a plot that tries at times to be a bit too surprising.
Selenge (Selenge Chadraabal) and Erkhmee (Erkhembayar Ganbat) are a couple who take a break from city life to spend time at — where else but? — a remote cabin in the woods. Something is off between the pair, though, as Erkhmee seems dominant and possibly abusive, which doesn’t go unnoticed by their lone neighbor (Yalalt Namsrai). Meanwhile, Selenge is obviously suffering from trauma, and the claustrophobic environment is only making matters worse.
Batsukh, working from a screenplay that he cowrote with Byambasuren Ganbat and Erdene Orosoo, has a keen visual eye, and incorporates everything from cameras attached to actors (with bobbing motion not unlike what you would get using selfie sticks) to unique angles to color palettes that set tones that calm, shock, and surprise. Quite often, Batsukh uses pure cinema to advance the story rather than dialogue.
Chadraabal gives a standout performance as a troubled woman, and she shows off a nice range of emotions with her multilayered character. Gambat and Namsrai are also solid in their roles, displaying subtle shades as their characters take unexpected turns.
The overall story is rather lean, and after an initial set-up that has viewers thinking in a certain direction, Aberrance starts playing fast and loose with twists. One thing is for certain: even seasoned horror and thriller aficionados likely won’t guess where the ending is ultimately headed.
Freestyle Digital Media will release Aberrance on October 6, 2023.
