Retreat

Directed by Ted Evans, Retreat follows Anne Zander’s Eva as she arrives at an isolated home for deaf people and begins to suspect something strange is afoot. Filmmaker Evans, armed with his own script, delivers a slow-paced endeavor that is, at the outset, focused on the day-to-day happenings within said home for the deaf, and it’s clear, ultimately, that the deliberate atmosphere isn’t quite as problematic as one might’ve feared – with the compelling bent of certain episodes, coupled with an agreeable undercurrent of mystery, sustaining the viewer’s interest through the more overtly meandering stretches. There’s little doubt, then, that Retreat begins to adopt a far more engrossing feel once certain pieces start to fall into place, with the growing emphasis on unexpectedly (and impressively) gripping interludes (eg a trip to the bank that takes a disastrous turn) paving the way for a satisfying closing stretch – with the end result an admittedly rough-around-the-edges thriller that exploits its unique setting to primarily entertaining effect.

*** out of ****