The husband, Bjorn, is a cowardly coward! He made poor choices throughout, first when returning to the house to get the daughter's stuffed bunny when the wife really wanted to leave, then not telling the wife what he found out about the couple and that he found Abel in the pool! Then he starts crying and begging Patrick not to hurt them. Then, to top it off, he could have gotten behind the wheel of the car and drove off when Patrick stopped to urinate but what does he do??? He sits there and doesn't do anything. I have about 15 minutes left to go of the movie and I just got so frustrated with Bjorn's behavior I had to pause the movie.
I had to pause it again because Patrick is punching Bjorn, who's not punching back, and Louise is punching the car seats instead of punching the bitch sitting next to her! Maybe this will end better than I think but for now, it's gotten ridiculous!
Spoilers ahead!
I was infuriated by both Bjorn and Louise. For all the reasons you mentioned.
For not searching the entire car for the bunny when they left the first time. For staying just because Patrick said they would have a great day (which consisted of Bjorn screaming in a quarry and Louise raking leaves). For leaving their daughter with a complete stranger because he does card tricks. They absolutely should have taken Agnes with them to the dive bar.
After Agnes gets (too horrible to repeat) and Louise just sits in the backseat with Karin instead of choking her to death.
For getting out of the car, after their daughter was kidnapped and mutilated, and following orders to strip naked, and get in the pit, and passively being stoned to death. Fight for your life! Run for your life! The Dutch couple didn't have any weapons we knew about except for a small scissor. In any case, who cares about weapons. They are clearly going to kill you. DO SOMETHING!
Agnes should play along. Stab them to death in their sleep and then contact the police and write a long letter detailing what happened. She is not that young.
Yes, I agree! I just finished the movie and what happened to them didn't even upset me! They actually WILLINGLY, without fighting back, LET it happen! Just stupid, just plain stupid!
And yeah, it would be nice if Agnes stabs them in their sleep!
You do realise that’s why the family were ‘picked’.
Because they were ‘nice’, violence just isn’t in their nature. Pacifists.
Remember the scene when the dad is spotted crying at the concert, showing a soft and sensitive side, I think that’s when they are chosen. They were easy targets.
Regarding the car scene, they are both just in total shock as to what happened and both just shut down. As would most people be if that happened to them in real life. It’s easy to say you would do this or that but once shock takes over you just become numb.
I understand your point to an extent but most people, even pacifists, have a strong will to live and out of sheer desperation will put up some type of fight. This, to me, was just bizarre and ridiculous, especially after their daughter was taken! Any caring parent, no matter how meek, would at least try to fight back to get their child back, knowing that she was in danger.
I would suggest you do a little research into victimization, especially the psychological aspect.
This sort of victimization and all the nuances and layers of it does exist and often in the most subtle of fashions and with such a wide variety of levels and intensity.
Heck, just do a cursory examination of the psychology of domestic abuse victims. As others have pointed out, the one couple knew exactly what types to "groom" for their depravity.
They're chosen right at the beginning, in the pool, when Patrick asks for the "unused" chair when it was clearly being used by Agnes. That was their first check on them. They increasingly tested they limits through the movie afterwards, and (quoting Patrick) they just "let him" get away with everything they were doing.
When Bjorn is so weak that he's unable to even stand up for her daughter's chair in the swimming pool, they knew they were a good target.
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But that was the point. They knew they would not resist. That was their basis for selecting victims. They observed people and identified common behavioural patterns, and eventually learned what makes perfect victims that don't fight back.
Agnes would not stab them while asleep.
Would you have the courage to do such thing at her age? Probably not. I am more interested to know why those children did not run away at night when they were clearly not locked into their rooms at least while the new victims were there?
One more thing: It's extremely hard to believe that not one of the families that went to see them weren't reported missing. At least one of those families - and wow, there were A LOT - must have mentioned a name and/or address of their new Dutch friends that they were going to visit. This was a ridiculous movie!
I'm a bit confused by the overwhelmingly positive reviews. I understand suspension of disbelief, but this movie lost me not even halfway through due to dumb decision after dumb decision after dumb decision. People make mistakes, and yes it's easy to say that maybe you or I would like to believe that we'd make different decisions in the same situation, but seriously. When 2 parents are just straight up idiots who have multiple chances to stop what is happening long before the incredibly obvious inevitable happens, it's hard to care much about the end result which we all saw coming a mile away.
It's also hard to believe that this has apparently happened dozens and dozens of times before. Not a single couple had even the slightest bit of intelligence or strength to protect their family from these sadists? Not a single family fought back and was able to kill their assailants? Despite being potentially the biggest serial killers in history judging by all the photos of the other families in their shed, there isn't a massive police investigation and media campaign about this? Yeah, right. If there's one thing I know for certain, it's that the media loves bad news, and serial killers on the lose who are killing "normal" white middle class families would be everywhere. Everyone would know about it.
I will say, I thought the filmmaking was pretty solid for the first half. Pretty good acting and tension. But overall this is a film that will be deleted from my library and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
Yep, I agree with everything you've said. I also don't understand how it got so many positive reviews. Maybe a lot of them are fake(?) The movie turned out to be ridiculous!!!
I think part of the reason I'm so annoyed is because I did enjoy it up to a certain point. Yes, they made stupid decision after stupid decision, but it was still entertaining and interesting how each couple was so different and I was very curious to see what would happen. But. . . . . . . . from the time Bjorn found all those pictures of previous families (come on, really!) until the last scene, stupidity ruled. It just really annoyed and disappointed me and I had no sympathy for those whimpering idiots!
Like r5d4d2 said, maybe Agnes will stab them to death in their sleep and report them to the police!
Not to defend this movie, (which I thought was very well-made but somewhat unoriginal) but many people seem to miss/refuse to understand that the victims not fighting back was the whole point. The couples were carefully selected based on common traits that the kidnappers interpreted as a sign of weakness. There are many clues throughout the movie that imply this. The lack of self-defense is also the strongest element of the movie. I see it as a social satire, rather than a thriller; a criticism of modern society, where a collective notion of political correctness - fuelled by social media - interferes with common sense in exercising our basic human rights. My problem with the movie is that it borrows its central plot from other, more effective, yet less sinister movies that took this concept a little further without the need to resort to murdering innocent children.
See, I understand your point but I don't agree. There are ALWAYS exceptions to EVERY rule and just because this couple fit a particular mold, doesn't mean that when completely cornered - and having their daughter mutilated, knowing what else lies in store for her - they won't react differently and fight back. It was just ridiculous to watch! IMO it's better to die fighting. 🙂
BTW I agree it was very well made and very enjoyable up until those last 20 - 30 preposterous minutes that is.
I also thought how this movie could be applied to something like cancel culture (we are taking away your children, we are taking away their ability to express themselves), as well as several other possible socio-political scenarios.
Especially since, what does the society do in response? It's helplessly watching on and allowing itself to be slaughtered.
Oh, and Patrick's line about being ideologically opposed to working and having
never worked a day in his life? Ha!
What other movies are you referring to? I'd be very interested in watching those.
I thought Ruben Östlund has done this topic to death in 'Force Majeure' and 'The square' using symbolism and dark humour. When it comes to thrillers, there is Michael Haneke's Funny Games, although I think that movie is even more pointless than Speak no evil.
I also initially thought that Bjorn should have tried to drive off, but you know the Dutch woman would have stabbed him in the neck with those sharp scissors she had.
I think that was probably one of the reasons she was sitting in the back to begin with.
Yes, that's probably why she was there but it would have only taken a minute for Bjorn to start the car and ram into Patrick while Louise held the Dutch woman down, or at least tried fighting her off and maybe throwing her out of the car. It was very obvious to me that Patrick got out to urinate just to prove that they wouldn't do a damn thing. And they didn't! I've never, in all my years, seen anything as ludicrous as the last 15-20 minutes of this film.
It was very obvious to me that Patrick got out to urinate just to prove that they wouldn't do a damn thing.
That is true, but that's also the point of the movie.
Back in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (and I don't remember now if it was in the Swedish movie or the American, but I distinctly remember that only one of them had this part of the dialogue) there was a scene where the main character was already in the serial killer's house, and it was already clear to him what was going to happen, when the killer said to him (something along the lines of), "Why did you enter my house? You could obviously sense that something was off. I never brought anyone here by force - it's amazing what people would do just to avoid offending someone."
That idea really struck a chord with me at the time, and this movie takes it even further.
Something very similar was said in this movie too. Bjorn asked Patrick why he was doing this to them and Patrick replied "because you let me." This was when they were standing outside of the car, with Louise and Agnes and the Dutch woman sitting inside. It hadn't gotten too far yet but it would in a minute or two. Even hearing Patrick's response doesn't prompt Bjorn to fight back! SMH
Maybe the director was trying to make a statement about sticking up for yourself and not letting people trample on you or it might spiral out of control(??) Either way I hated it!
Bjorn accepted the invitation because he thought it would be impolite to decline. What does it matter if some stranger you'll never see again is offended?
They had already left the house once, but then ended up staying because Patrick acted all offended that they left without saying goodbye. Even though by then there already were obvious massive red flags! Like really, would you even be able to be in physical proximity of people who slept naked next to your daughter anymore?
And I mean, for me personally that dinner alone would have been enough.
I knew going into this from the reviews and other feedback I've seen that the Danish couple never resisted, so I didn't hate it. And like I said, that was precisely the point.
I know this. That's why Patrick said "because you let me." He was talking about the entire weekend, how they let themselves be pushed around the entire weekend. How they let their values be compromised continuously (i.e. Louise actually eating meat even though she was a vegetarian, Bjorn not confronting Patrick when he was spying on them in bed, not leaving even though Louise became hysterical over their treatment of Abel). They made stupid decision after stupid decision throughout. No normal couple would have put up with half of what they put up with. And certainly no normal couple would have let their child be mutilated and taken and let themselves - LET themselves - be stoned to death! That's why I say either the director was trying to make some sort of point about sticking up for one's self or it was just plain idiotic.
BTW I didn't know they willingly went to slaughter until seeing it. Had I known before hand I probably wouldn't have watched it.
Once they had failed to protect their daughter after promising to keep her safe and watching these evil people cut off her tongue and kidnap her… the parents could not live with themselves, they were in shock, knew death was coming and welcomed it.
Their suicidal niceness maps onto the suicidal niceness of those who allow Islamic immigrants to invade their countries and exploit, attack, rape and kill the host population. It’s no accident that the head of the operation is called ‘Muhajid’, their child is mutilated, and they are killed by the barbaric Islamic practice of stoning.
Yes, but for me the worst thing is when they allow the couple and their accomplice to cut her daughter's tongue and drag her out of the car and they don't do no thing. NOTHING. I mean, even if they ar cowards, bla bla, for rage they would do something, that doesn't have any sense. They didn't even have guns, for Christ's sake.
Funny Games of Michael Haneke did the same of this movie but much better, in my opinion.
Björn tried to reach out for his daughter but got hit in the face really hart by Patrick.
And Louise got strangled by the other guy while Karin cut the daughter.
I agree with everything you said. I know the movie is supposed to be about a pacifist couple not being able to react, but I would have rather seen a dramatic transformation into an utterly violent couple. Here is how I would have had the last 15 minutes go:
Bjorn tells his wife that they killed Abel, plan to kill them too, and it's time to leave. All the same sequences until the "stopping for a piss" scene happen as they did in the movie. However, instead of just looking at the keys, Bjorn grabs the key out of the ignition, turns around, and stabs that cunt multiple times right in her juggler with it! After that, Patrick grabs Bjorn out of the car, and beats him nearly unconscious. But, just before Patrick can deal the death blow, Bjorn's wife jams the scissors into his back! He turns around, and starts wailing on Bjorn's wife, but she is able to kick him in the nuts, and runs away with the daughter. Patrick is hobbling after them, and eventually starts gaining on them, but he hears the rev of an engine behind him. He turns around just in time to see Bjorn behind the wheel with the most pissed off look you could imagine. The car hits Patrick, and he flips up, and crashes into the windshield. Bjorn thinks he has won, and so gets out to walk toward his wife and daughter. Suddenly, the babysitter driving his truck comes out of nowhere, and aims for Bjorn, but mostly misses him. Bjorn is injured though; the truck ran over his left foot. The babysitter gets out, and starts to come at Bjorn who literally freaks out screaming "come on mutherfucker!!!" The babysitter thinks he has the upper hand, but Bjorn is in beast mode now. He has fully transformed, and is no longer a pacifist. He puts the babysitter into a headlock, and holds on until the babysitter passes out. Finally, he gets into the babysitter's truck, and proceeds to back up over his head, looking out the window, as the babysitter's skull is crushed and blood spurts up onto Bjorn's face. Bjorn is adorned with a look of both rage, insanity, and joy all in one.
Right on, thanks you! Yeah, i was sooo ready to rate this movie a 10/10 on imdb, but when those last 15 minutes hit, I was so bummed out, I could only come here and vent. I won't even rate it now, but if I did, i guess it would be like 6/10. That ending really blew it for me.
No way, them gaining strength and overpowering them would have been the cliche ending.
People like to talk a good game of what they would do in that situation buts its like they say in Fight Club, in real life most people will do anything to avoid a fight or confrontation.
People don't like to admit it but if they are faced with a cunning manipulative and physically powerful man who is bullying them they will shit their pants and that is what happened to Bjorn.
The film is obviously ramped up to the extreme but the point is relevant, these people do exist minus the murder and kidnapping aspect
I agree with you to a certain extent. Most people, myself included, will try to avoid a confrontation. What was happening to Bjorn and his family at the end of this stupid film goes waaaaaay beyond that and they just permitted themselves to be killed. And they permitted their daughter to be taken.
When attacked, people make some attempt to fight back, especially if the welfare of their child is at stake. Had Bjorn and Louisa fought back, there's no guarantee they would have won and the outcome might be the same. That would have been tragic but not STUPID. The way the whole thing was done is absolutely ridiculous. That's the point - not whether they ended up dying or not.
Even though we see things differently I appreciate your comment.
I think you need to keep in mind that this film is really allegorical and it's deliberately taken to the extreme to make the point of being polite and passive to the point of people walking all over you.
And bear in mind that from the very first interaction that couple were targeted because they were seen as easy prey. Remember him asking for the chair that was for the daughter and him giving it up.
Also he did attempt to fight back in the car but was met with an attack in return and realized he was out of his depth.
The victims in this film were cowardly and not assertive and the point is look what happens if you do nothing and let people take advantage of you, the ending will stick in your mind and if they had hit them and got away it would have defeated to point of the moral of the story
The one point I can totally agree with you is that I do think the "moral" of the story is not to let people take advantage of you because it could completely spiral out of control.
I think you need to keep in mind that this film is really allegorical and it's deliberately taken to the extreme to make the point of being polite and passive to the point of people walking all over you.
And bear in mind that from the very first interaction that couple were targeted because they were seen as easy prey. Remember him asking for the chair that was for the daughter and him giving it up.
Also he did attempt to fight back in the car but was met with an attack in return and realized he was out of his depth.
The victims in this film were cowardly and not assertive and the point is look what happens if you do nothing and let people take advantage of you, the ending will stick in your mind and if they had hit them and got away it would have defeated to point of the moral of the story
It tries to be symbolic but the rest of the film is too realistic to get this, that's the reason everybody is hating the ending and everybody feels it breaks all the movie. NO ONE, for coward they are, allow themselves to be killed and their daughter mutilated and kidnapped that way, they aren't victims (like the family of Funny Games, a masterpiece which really gets what it wants to mean), they are basically accomplices in their own agression.
'they are basically accomplices in their own agression'
Funny enough i have been on Reddit and that was basically exactly what the director said, in the same words, he doesn't sypmathize with them either and that was again the point.
The director from what i gather is basically a lit bit of a Lars von Trier (not saying same standard) in that he thinks people have become pussies and this film is a critique of these kind of people