Directed by Caroline Ingvarsson and written by Michèle Marshall and Håkan Nesser, a Swedish TV presenter’s well-ordered life unravels when she finally confronts her domineering husband about an accusation against him. Her subsequent flight precipitates a chain of lies and paranoia in this taut psychological thriller. Starring: Mirja Turestedt, Kris Hitchen, Thomas W. Gabrielsson, Anna Próchniak, Ia Langhammer, Sven Ahlström, Andrzej Konopka and Marta Zmuda Trzebiatowska.
One of the things you quickly notice with Unmoored is the use of language, it litters red flags of domestic abuse and predatory behaviour. It’s a classic example of the type of emotionally abusive relationship which is easy to see from the outside but from within, it often takes a severe realisation or moment of violence to shine a light on it.
Once Maria (Mirja Turestedt) has that revelatory moment and the story rolls into action, you then see the after-effects, it’s an exploration of the continuing impact of abuse. There’s an abundance of paranoia, anxiety, mistrust but at the same time, it exhibits her strength. The willingness she demonstrates to make a new life, to separate herself from that abuse.
Michèle Marshall and Håkan Nesser’s writing moves wonderfully, it’s gripping with a growing intensity and is paced perfectly. The reveal of the different layers is also handled really well, it’s all out in the open but there’s still a subtlety to its strength which is gracefully done. You can vaguely know where it’s going but it still has some great turns in store. It’s also interesting to bring a perspective on sexual abuse from the partner of the abuser, and how that then can open their eyes and the impact it has on their mental health.
Whether they’re in the north or south, the English moors will always be a fantastic setting for film. The isolation mixed with natural beauty is perfect for any thriller or horror, because it builds this immediately captivating and enveloping atmosphere. Particularly in the way Caroline Ingvarsson flows through different genres with her visual, there’s elements of romance, family and drama, as well as mystery, thriller and horror. The aesthetic is rich and originates in a modern style but the deeper it goes, the more it becomes classically toned. It’s filled with tension and a slowly building suspense.
One of the great choices it makes is that it’s not perfect because that would be too easy. It has a nice sense of reality and how panic and fear feed into momentary decisions with far-reaching consequences. A lot of that is encapsulated by the sublime performance from Mirja Turestedt. She creates this captivating evolution to Maria, and you’re behind her every step of the way. Her portrayal holds your attention effortlessly and blended with the film’s strong atmosphere, it’s a potent combination.
It’s also lovely to see an appearance from Kris Hitchen, who brings a sweetness and understanding to Unmoored. You can easily tell the quality of Thomas W. Gabrielsson’s performance by how much he makes you hate him. He’s filled with arrogance, has a terrible temper and is quick to rage, all classic signs of abusers and portrayed perfectly. Anna Próchniak only appears very briefly but manages to create quite a complex character who has a sincerely memorable moment with Turestedt’s Maria.
Unmoored is a stellar debut feature from Caroline Ingvarsson, it’s gripping, tense and there’s also this edge of dark humour lingering within, that the Swedish do better than almost anyone else. Mirja Turestedt gives an absolutely excellent performance which is enthralling from start to finish, filled with a whirlwind of different emotions. It’s shot brilliantly and has a clever penchant for melding different genres to build the perfect atmosphere for its suspenseful, unravelling story.
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