Sundance London 2022 Review

Hatching is remarkable weirdness of the highest order is what to expect in this Finnish genre, minor masterpiece, whilst maintaining a level of anxiety throughout intent to startle the senses, keeping constantly unusual story aspects front and centre.

Aspiring gymnastic protege Tinja (Siiri Solalinna) has an absolutely bogus and uncontrollable Mother (Sophia Heikkila) determined to put her daughter up on social media as an extension to her own influencer, figurehead tendencies.

Mum even has an open, pleasurable affair, that nice husband (Jani Volanen) and particularly her daughter, are not hidden from. She’s wayward.

Mysterious occurrences begin after a bird has a flying mishap into the family home and has to be put out of its misery. This raven, or crow like feathered creature buried in the backyard left an egg behind which Tinja possesses and incubates in her bedroom.

Anticipating what happens next is almost impossible, keeping spoiler free, the egg grows extremely big and hatches into a evolution splice of animal and human, motivated by the tears of Tinja or something like that!

Symbolism is prevalent if you overthink it, don’t. Just enjoy the glorious freakshow. Young Solalinna has a huge career ahead.

Riveting practical effects of creature design, evokes frightening reality.

Hatching is a challenging movie has brilliant rewards for horror aficionados. Bird seed cravings with regurgitation are only the beginning. Must see.