Heresy

Heresy
Starring Anneke Sluiters, Len Leo Vincent, Nola Elvis Kemper, Leon van Waas
Directed by Didier Konings

Religion is a fascinating thing, and how it's evolved and adapted throughout the centuries. Back in the day, women were seen as nothing more than baby carriers for men who were doing the Lord's work, and who were confined to wifey duties like cleaning the home and cooking, and their voices were never heard nor acknowledged by the religious men. Woods were seen as the devil's playground, representing a chaotic, untamed, and dangerous unknown where the devil and his minions dwelled, luring men to their deaths and women to turn into witches. Barren women were seen as cursed by God for some sin, and until they rectified that sin they'd never be able to bare a child and were therefore shunned by the community. Thankfully times have changed, but "Heresy" (called "Witte Wieven" meaning "white women" in Dutch Low Saxon) shows us what it could've been like living in such an isolated, narrow-minded community.

Frieda (Anneke Sluiters) is a dutiful wife to Hikko (Len Leo Vincent), doing all her duties with the willingness of a faithful Christian, but she's been barren. No matter what she does, she can't get pregnant. When she's stalked by fellow townsman Gelo (Leon van Waas) she flees into the woods where Gelo is killed by an unseen entity, and Frieda becomes entranced by it, finding herself returning to the woods to the chagrin of the town, who claim she's been possessed by the devil. When she becomes pregnant, she is further shunned by her religious community and Hikko in particular, leaving her to once again turn to the woods - and the spirits within - to help her and her unborn baby.

At a scant 60 minutes, "Heresy" doesn't waste its time in introducing us to the setting, characters, and underlying issues. The film is set in a small confined space with a few characters we know, and breezes through its story with enough information to know what's happening but not being filled with exposition that's not needed. Essentially, this is a story of a woman who is shunned by her religious community after communing with a devil in the woods (at least the others see it as a devil) who becomes pregnant by it, and is hunted down for the unborn devil baby inside her.

That's really it, but despite the short runtime the director doesn't skimp on cinematography or effects, as both are in full effect. The woods look menacing, the small community building designs are compelling, and the devil in the woods is never fully seen but we can see it in the distance, which makes it all the more terrifying. The other effects are superbly done as well, along with the acting and directing. Basically, it's a short review, but the movie is a short one, and a fascinating one at that.

The Score: B