One of the films popping up in the early weeks of October is the Turkish dystopian horror ANTENNA. From filmmaker Orçun Behram comes the slow dredging black mirror ish thriller about a landlord's assistant dealing with a very unique day. There are some government appointed satellite dishes installed on the building where he works and it starts some adverse side effects with the tenants.
ANTENNA fuses a modern fable with a dire and slow examination of European politics and behaviors in their small part of the world. There is so much attention paid to the overtures of propaganda that the chills surprise you once you see the power of the goop. Honestly this film would have worked on many levels if it wasn't for the length. The point is driven early in the film and while Ihsan Önal portrayal of Mehmet is more than rewarding, there are just too many moments of stillness in ANTENNA.
I really enjoyed the overall color of ANTENNA. It fit well into the scheme of a society overrun by oppression. Movies like this really hit home in this time period. It's hard to deny such a future won't exist. I wouldn't recommend eating while watching this film as that may be the only thing giving you uneasiness. Still as a dark dystopian fairy tale ANTENNA works on many levels. A short version or "episode" of this narrative would have been more successful to keep the my attention but it is a nice change up from the late night movie scene that seems to be at the forefront of the industry.
2.5/5
ANTENNA is directed and written by Orçun Behram it stars Ihsan Önal, Gül Arici, Levent Ünsal, Isil Zeynep, Murat Saglam, Elif Çakman, Mert Toprak Yadigar and Eda Öze. ANTENNA is being distributed courtesy of DARK STAR pictures.