The first film from the Philippou brothers, who are also behind the forthcoming Street Fighter adaptation, The Hand arrives in cinemas on July 26 and promises to thrill summer audiences.
With its often UFO-like films(Everything Everywhere all at once) and highly recognizable horror style(Midsommar, The Lighthouse, It Follows, etc.), A24 has established itself as one of the most popular production studios of the moment. The name alone is usually enough to attract a certain niche audience. High school students, a haunted hand, lots of screaming and terrifying effects - all of which should appeal to this horror film's audience.
Our opinion
This is the horror movie of the summer! In The Hand, a group of friends discover how to conjure up spirits using a mysterious haunted hand, and get hooked on this new thrill. But inevitably, the young adults are overwhelmed by their experiences and things get out of hand. Mia, the main protagonist, is first urged by the group to test the ordeal, then asks for more and more. Faced with the increasingly intoxicating effects of the hand, each of the characters wants to try again, despite the obvious dangers. The metaphor of drug use among young Americans is barely concealed, and the plot lacks subtlety.
But it's diabolically effective! The possession scenes are a delight. Terrifying and brilliantly staged, the Philippou brothers have clearly understood how to make a successful horror film. The Hand also contains its fair share of references, not least It Follows, which, like It Follows, was a metaphor for the evil eating away at American youth. And the film doesn't hold back on its gory effects to do so. With a fine economy of means, and a tight, unadorned narrative, The Hand impresses and earns a good place among the best horror films of 2023.
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