[8]

Crazed hunters pursue an American mountain cyclist through the misty Austrian wilderness until all parties fall prey to a super-sick and twisted, almost supernatural character referred to as Mortis. Director Federico Zampaglione puts a few fresh spins on this mash-up of familiar tropes and proves downright masterful at building atmosphere and suspense. The scenes involving Mortis (Nuot Arquint) are a rare treat for horror fans. I’m hard pressed to think of many more bone-chillingly creepy performances than his in this film — it’s right up there with Max Schreck in Nosferatu. The film gets more dreamlike and interpretive as it goes, but never so much as to diminish how genuinely spooky it is. Highly recommended to horror fans.