Beautiful and obtuse

Hadžihalilović composes her film of elegant, gorgeous imagery, co-mingling horror and beauty in equal measure. Evolution throws off the vibe of a horror film, but it’s not particularly interested in adhering to any of the typical cinematic language that surrounds the genre. Instead, the narrative effectively gets inside the confused mind of Nicolas, so utterly perplexed at what’s happening to him. At times, the vagueness surrounding Evolution can dip into frustrating territory, but Hadžihalilović’s controlled, calm direction always manages to pull you back in. There may not be enough here from a narrative perspective to entice, but a remarkable visual style coupled with a genuine mix of emotion not often glimpsed in the genre are enough to make Evolution worth studying. http://www.cutprintfilm.com/reviews/evolution/