Written and directed by Baatar Batsukh, co-written by Trevor Doyle and Byambasuren Ganbat, an estranged couple takes a retreat in the woods. Foreboding neighbours, frivolous friends, and dark unseen forces lead to a shocking conclusion. Starring: Selenge Chadraabal, Erkhembayar Ganbat, Oyundary Jamsranjav, Yalalt Namsrai, Bayarsanaa Batchuluun, Badamtsetseg Batmunkh and Sukhee Ariunbyamba.
Suspicion, fear, tension and suspense, they’re all things which can’t be built artificially, they have to be convincing to work and unfortunately, Aberrance simply tries too hard. Baatar Batsukh pushes a lot of formulaically edgy or untrustworthy angles to try and push the story along, as well as employing a few too many first person, go-pro style and drone shots. All of which added to the lacking quality of the aesthetic overall, especially with its colour and detail being quite flat, the visual doesn’t have a lot to give.
Sadly, the same can be said of the story, it’s relatively simple and its hidden layers don’t offer much of a reveal. The major problem it struggles with is building a motivation, who does it want you to root for or against? The creation of the characters is quite weak so there’s not a lot to invest in. It also simply feels like a mixed bag of miscommunication, coincidence and ultimately, forcing a dark side upon itself. Looking at it as a whole, there is a story there but it plays out without confidence or clarity, making itself messy to the point of leaving its audience entirely unsure of what it’s trying to achieve.
The lack of personality and detail to Aberrance’s characters also leaves its actors to struggle to build something tangible. There are moments of emotion and flickers of energy but otherwise it’s mostly one-noted. They do get to let go more in the film’s final scenes but while that is more satisfying, it doesn’t feel in balance with the tone of the rest of the film. The final fifteen minutes and the film’s resolution feel like an entirely different feature, one that could have had a lot more fun with some twisted or sadistic touches.
Aberrance feels like it was made with a lot of hesitation, it lacks confidence and consistency. The direction is trying too hard to force what it wants the audience to feel rather than building it naturally. The story ultimately makes sense and has a decent foundation but that’s hard to see until its final moments, potentially leaving audiences unsure what to make of it.
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