Azrael Reviews (original) (raw)

Summary In a world in which no one speaks, a mysterious, devout community hunts down a young woman named Azrael (Samara Weaving) who has escaped their imprisonment. Recaptured by its ruthless leaders, she is to be sacrificed to pacify an evil which resides deep within the surrounding wilderness – but Azrael will stop at nothing to ensure her own...

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Summary In a world in which no one speaks, a mysterious, devout community hunts down a young woman named Azrael (Samara Weaving) who has escaped their imprisonment. Recaptured by its ruthless leaders, she is to be sacrificed to pacify an evil which resides deep within the surrounding wilderness – but Azrael will stop at nothing to ensure her own...

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Weaving’s expressive face and boundless energy make her a compelling heroine, and her will to survive is unstoppable.

Weaving, who excels at this kind of character-driven action-horror, plays perfectly with our empathy, wordlessly guiding us through this damned land.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

A very creative premise shrouded in an open narrative to keep the mystery, bold direction of no dialogue and simple, concentrated setting with a small cast - all to engage the audience. Short and sweet with shocking twists and a bombastic ending. Stellar performance by the protagonist. Highly recommend.

Weaving confirms that she has the nerve to be a horror icon, delivering a wicked and gritty performance, and rising to the demands of a film where she must believably convey the nuances of fright and rage, without any words to do so.

Azrael is both familiar and unique, blending genre comforts with a risky idea. Luckily, it all works, paying off a relatively massive gamble that benefits from Samara Weaving's star power.

Silence is both the film’s main asset and its principal limitation, creating moments of suspense but also leaving us in the dark, to the point that it feels more like a gimmick than anything substantial.

The lack of specificity around the situation and the underbaked character development reduces Azrael to being nothing more than a horror with an interesting premise.

Ultimately, “Azrael” lacks the energy or chills to terrify viewers.

Azrael is one of those movies where the lead actress carries the whole thing on her shoulders. Samara Weaving absolutely owns her role with such expressive intensity and raw energy that you can't take your eyes off her. She makes Azrael a character worth rooting for, even when the story doesn't give her much to work with. Her performance is electric, and she brings so much life to a movie that often feels like it's just... happening around her. Visually, the film is stunning. The cinematography and the dark, oppressive atmosphere set the perfect tone for a post-apocalyptic horror. The Burned Ones are terrifying to look at, and the world feels genuinely dangerous. But where it falters is the script. There's no backstory, no real character buildup, and the lack of explanation for anything, be it the monsters, the cult, or Azrael's choices, leaves you feeling like you're grasping at straws to make sense of it all. A little more depth or context would've gone a long way in turning this into something truly memorable. As it stands, Azrael is a chilling, beautifully directed horror movie with flashes of brilliance, but it's ultimately a missed opportunity. It delivers on mood and style, but it skimps on substance. It's worth watching for Samara Weaving alone, but don't expect the story to stick with you in the same way her performance will.

Nothing can save this because it doesn't give you enough to root for anyone. We have no idea why these idiots ripped out their vocal chords or who the crappy vampires are (if they're even vampires). No idea why this baby is so important, and no idea why they're the only group in the world doing this. There needs to be an anchor in the plot to tether it to the real world, and Azrael just doesn't give us one.

Azrael is a strange film where nothing is clear—why things happen or why we are even watching. Who's who, and why the creatures exist, is all uncertain. Samara Weaving killed some people again, and that's it. The film has no purpose. So what?

? It's not the worst made film but it is maybe the biggest ? there is nothing here.

As much as I enjoy Samara Weaving as an actress, I feel for her being in trash like this. The story is bland and suffers from a severe lack of originality. It is a dime-a-dozen kind of film. There's no depth, it is over in less than 90 minutes, and the ending is almost insultingly stupid.

Production Company

Release Date Sep 27, 2024

Duration 1 h 25 m

Rating R

Tagline After The Rapture Those Left On Earth Will Suffer In Silence.

Sitges - Catalonian International Film Festival