Looking for a gripping Nordic thriller to sink your teeth into this week? Channel 4 just added The Innocents to its roster of movies – and it could be one to add to your watch list.
Written and directed by Eskil Vogt, whose credits include Oscar-nominated Sentimental Value and The Worst Person in the World, the horror-thriller follows a group of children in Oslo who all possess supernatural powers.
As their capabilities grow, they "teeter" between innocence and experience, and what begins as a slow-burn testing of their abilities quickly takes a dark and chilling turn. Originally premiering in 2021, the film holds a near-perfect rating of 97% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Channel 4 has established itself as a firm base for Nordic thrillers, thanks to its offshoot streaming service, Walter Presents, which spotlights award-winning foreign-language dramas. Chosen and curated by Italian TV producer Walter Iuzzolino (Professor T, Bookish, The Couple Next Door), the slate also features Arctic Circle, The Pushover and Monster.
Intrigued? Read on to find out all you need to know about The Innocents…
What is The Innocents about?
The movie follows Ida, a nine-year-old girl who moves into a new group of flats with her family during the summer. When she meets a group of friends, she quickly befriends them and they discover they have supernatural abilities.
But what begins as a fun exploration of their powers when no one is watching soon takes a sharp turn when their close proximity sparks hidden impulses.
© Alamy Stock PhotoWho stars in The Innocents?
The four main stars are among the most talked-about elements of the film, as they were all under the age of 12.
Rakel Lenora Fløttum plays Ida, while Alva Brynsmo Ramstad plays Anna, Ida's sister. Meanwhile, Sam Ashraf is Ben, who develops telekinesis, and Mina Yasmin Bremseth Asheim plays Aisha, who can speak telepathically with Anna.
© WireImageWhat have critics said about The Innocents?
The movie proved a hit with both critics and viewers alike, and currently holds a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
In its five-star review, The Guardian penned: "Young actors steal the show in this scary movie set on a Norwegian housing estate, where grownups are unaware of the children's abilities."
Meanwhile, The Observer wrote: "The Innocents is an altogether more chilling proposition that harnesses the terrifying malice of bored kids and blurs the line between social drama and out-and-out horror." Empire added: "An effective and unsettling allegory for growing up, this is the kind of low-key horror that will make you look twice at cherub-faced youngsters."
© Alamy Stock PhotoWhat have viewers said about The Innocents?
Viewers were also quick to praise the film, with one person writing on Rotten Tomatoes: "It’s a slow burn in the best way possible, and one of the rawest, most unsettling film experiences I’ve ever had."
Meanwhile, another added: "I cannot praise this film enough. Very slow, but be patient because it delivers an amazing story. The child actors are stunning, Alva Brysmo Ramstad is outstanding… It captures the cruelty, viscousness and innocence, hence the title, of what it is to be a child. I highly recommend this movie, one of the best I have seen this year."
The Innocents is available to stream on Channel 4 until 15 March.
