The Novice (2021 film)

“The Novice” quickly establishes its mode of, and commitment to, visual exposition, which works wonders to explain the protagonist’s mindset. Were that it found something to do with these elements once the stakes are established. I don’t want to knock this film for engaging in broad overstatement—similar works such as “Black Swan” and “Pi” could hardly be called “subtle”—but “The Novice” flounders when restating the obvious is combined with rote repetition: lots of panting, light body horror, “geez tone it down newb”, loop for ninety minutes. Some impressive aspects to the filmmaking, but mostly too boring to recommend.

4