Read User Reviews and Submit your own for Lamb (2021)

6

JLuis_001Nov 6, 2021

I could easily dismiss this film, and incidentally put it as an example of why arthouse films are often criticized so much.
After all, the premise is just absurd, but as a viewer you must fully accept it, otherwise you won't be able toI could easily dismiss this film, and incidentally put it as an example of why arthouse films are often criticized so much.
After all, the premise is just absurd, but as a viewer you must fully accept it, otherwise you won't be able to advance.

Even with issues boiling under the surface, Lamb is merely a bizarre story set in the situation the film presents us with that animal. Which in this story is a kind of human / animal hybrid.

There are a lot of questions of course, but this film doesn't even ask them.
And it is not for lack of intention, it's simply that it makes it clear that this's not its endgame.

Problematically Lamb has an obstacle that stands out too much for a decision that was clearly made by the director.
I'm talking about the seriousness of it.
This story takes itself too seriously, in all its elements.

Nothing about it is open to a funny interpretation, and yet it happens. The film just can't help it.
The lack of depth only adds more problems to the solemnity of the overall tone of the story.

The incredibly open conclusion only raises more questions, although it answers the most basic one. However at that point, I just cannot deny a part of my dissatisfaction.
And I'm a viewer who privileges the journey over the destination, however Lamb owes more for what it proposes than for what it ends up achieving.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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0

imthenoobSep 22, 2022

While the film looks stunning, It ultimately is all filler and no meat. There is too much time spent on these long tracking shots to show off the stunning location and not enough time to tell a story worth telling. As a short film, This wouldWhile the film looks stunning, It ultimately is all filler and no meat. There is too much time spent on these long tracking shots to show off the stunning location and not enough time to tell a story worth telling. As a short film, This would have been fine. As a feature-length film, It's a nightmare to sit through because it is so freaking boring.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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7

moviemitch96Oct 8, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This bizzare little Icelandic indie follows a couple living on a lamb farm living in the rural mountains of Iceland. One day, one of their lambs unexpectedly and very strangely gives birth to a half-lamb half-human hybrid. The couple take it upon themselves to raise it on their own, but soon find out that interfering with nature has its challenges (and consequences). The premise is so out there that I almost wasn't sure what to think upon seeing the trailer for this, but I'm certainly open-minded enough to go to whacky and outlandish indie films such as this all the time. So I went in with modest expectations, and while the film does work surprisingly well in some regards, I was simply disappointed in how much it seemed to drag, although this did allow me to take better notice of and appreciate the gorgeous cinematography and mountain views throughout the film. A rather minimalist approach was used for the film as well. Dialogue was rather scarce, with only a handful of scenes containing words and interactions with the characters. And as far as the performances go, Noomi Rapace (best known for the Swedish 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' films) gives what I'd consider her best (and most heartbreaking) performance to date. Even as the film managed to keep me better invested in the second half, the last 5 or so minutes suddenly became rather bleak and dismal all of a sudden for my liking, and the film ended on such a sad and uncomfortable note that left me feeling empty and hollow as I walked out of the theater. Overall, a bizzare premise is made surprisingly worthwhile thanks in large part to the performances, cinematography, and themes of parenthood that are implemented somewhat cleverly, but the pace did drag a bit for me, and the ending really left a bad taste in my mouth.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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1

OrukayuJan 22, 2023

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I'll call it a 2021 mystery movie, but it's not. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited when I saw a 6-odd score as a horror genre lately. But it has nothing to do with fear.

Especially, I will not think in vain that this result will come out of this or that. What happened?

One winter's day, a half-man, half-ram creature plunged into the corral. Then one of the sheep gave birth. The family who lost their children in the past embraced it as their children. They even killed the sheep that wanted its baby. Finally, the real father came and took his child.

These events were shot with such heavy and stagnant scenes that they wasted the audience's time. There is no excitement, no tension, and nothing to make you wonder. The best thing in the movie is Handel's Keyboard Suite in D Minor that plays at the end. The movie has two scenes involving sexuality and nudity.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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7

sanctuarydecineDec 25, 2021

i thought this would be a semi horror, artsy creature feature, but this turned out to be a weird family drama. nice reveal at the end and i really like the film but i wanted more horror or just some cool horrific imagery. i ended up laughingi thought this would be a semi horror, artsy creature feature, but this turned out to be a weird family drama. nice reveal at the end and i really like the film but i wanted more horror or just some cool horrific imagery. i ended up laughing more than being disturbed or horrified. … Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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9

Brent_MarchantOct 9, 2021

What a refreshing surprise! This unusual blend of mystery, horror, folk tale, and dark, offbeat comedy will easily tickle those whose funny bones lean toward the strange and macabre. When a childless Icelandic sheep herding farm couple findsWhat a refreshing surprise! This unusual blend of mystery, horror, folk tale, and dark, offbeat comedy will easily tickle those whose funny bones lean toward the strange and macabre. When a childless Icelandic sheep herding farm couple finds a surprise in their stable, it sends them down a path strewn with happiness, tragedy, karma and more than a few surprises. Writer-director Valdimar Johannsson's debut feature definitely won't appeal to everyone, but those who appreciate fresh, inventive material will love this immensely creative offering, told with subtle, tongue-in-cheek wit, gorgeous cinematography and a style that relies more on showing than telling. Imagine a contemporary story told in the style of a Grimms fairy tale, and you've got a pretty good idea what's in store in this stylish, creepy, hilarious and darkly charming release.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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3

RalfbergsApr 15, 2022

If you like the views and cinematography of movies then this is great, but plot wise I found it quite boring, low pace and even if it had some additional meaning to it there, I didn't see it as anything great.

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10

CharlesMOct 9, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Lamb is to Animal Farm as Elephant (2003) is to Elephant (1989). It is a story of our times told through allegory. Despite the low budget and minimal cast and filming location, it has a lot to offer in narrative and cinematography. I highly recommend this film to anyone who is a fan of symbolism, Russian literature, and/or precision storytelling. I do not recommend this film to literally anyone else. You will not enjoy it, you will think it is slow, you will think nothing happens, you will think the "twist" is underdone, etc. Honestly can say, Lamb is my new favorite film, and I eagerly await Valdimar Jóhannsson's next project.

(SPOILERS AHEAD)

In most basic terms, Lamb, to me (I will only emphasize this once, this is my opinion, I do not pretend there is an exact takeaway from any work of art, as art is subjective) is about the struggle between old and new, framed in the trope of man vs nature. I do not think this film was exactly political, but I will use the terms conservative and liberal in reference to their respective philosophies. Conservative being the will to remain true to tradition, the way things have always been. Liberal being the will to bring about change at any cost. I think each character represents a specific point on the spectrum between neo-conservative and neo-liberal. The mother lamb being neo-conservative, the brother being conservative, the dog being neutral, the father being liberal, and the mother being neo-liberal. The lamb itself is not a character, but an idea. A third party ("the twist", or "the monster", or "the naked sheep man") conceived this idea. The idea was born, and the neo-liberal hijacked it and raised it as her own. The neo-conservative objected and took a stand against the perversion. The neo-liberal, unconfident in her actions against nature (the conservative ideal), silenced the neo-conservative (the only thing standing in her way of change) with a weapon. The conservative literally drops into the story. He initially objects to the perversion, but is too distracted by consumerism (cigarettes, sports, alcohol) to become uncomfortable enough to take action. In fact, when he does muster the strength to use the weapon against the idea, he eventually concedes. He is all talk, no game (see Facebook boomers). I have more to say on the mid portion of the movie, but I will leave that up to you to determine. The ending, though, is brilliant. Eventually, he who conceived the idea comes to take the idea back. In this struggle, the neutral party is killed in the crossfire, leaving only the extremes to duke it out. Using the same weapon used to silence the neo-conservative, the new conservative force silences the liberal, leaving only two polar opposites. Old vs new. But now, both sides are moved to physical action against each other in pursuit of their ideal world. This is the paradigm shift. In my opinion this is telling us that without balance in the progression of society, the liberal philosophy will always prevail. For a conservative force to meet the liberal, though, would be as impossible as the mythical goat man that represented it. This is just my take, though.

I've heard many critiques of the film. None of them attempted to interpret it at any more than face value. Walking out of the theater, I spoke with a man claiming to have a master's in English writing. He said the movie was horrible. I pleaded with him to the contrary, describing the symbolism. He simply didn't see it. If the Russian revolution never occurred, yet Animal Farm was still written verbatim, would it still be an allegory? In the same vein, if you weren't aware of the tides that move us today, would you realize that a story was calling it to your attention? I don't think his master's degree in English failed him, no, I think the true horror of the movie lies in the ignorance of the masses, the sheep, to the greater meaning of our world.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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3

MetacriticOnurNov 21, 2021

bad
[ bad ]

adjective, worse, worst;(Slang) bad·der, bad·dest for 36.
not good in any manner or degree.

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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0

fgoulartOct 30, 2021

Crap, don’t waist your time. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmerdddddddaassssssssdddddddd

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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1

1MoviemanOct 9, 2021

This was the worst I have seen in a long time. I dont know who thought up this theme. I guess that it was a folk tale somewhere.

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

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6

bertobellamyDec 31, 2021

I liked it, although I wish I would've liked it better. The whole situation the film revolves about is as awkward as funny. But I felt there was some lack of substance in here. The brother, for example, serves no purpose at all in the film;I liked it, although I wish I would've liked it better. The whole situation the film revolves about is as awkward as funny. But I felt there was some lack of substance in here. The brother, for example, serves no purpose at all in the film; and I think the story only explores the surface when it comes to grief. Loved the premise, but the execution was not what I expected. Go and see 'Annette' for a better freak child film.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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9

OuasOct 18, 2021

I didn't know what to exactly expect because I kind of glanced the trailer, but I love A24 films. At parts I was laughing hysterically, at parts I was generally confused at how or why, at parts I was just sadden by what I was seeing and byI didn't know what to exactly expect because I kind of glanced the trailer, but I love A24 films. At parts I was laughing hysterically, at parts I was generally confused at how or why, at parts I was just sadden by what I was seeing and by the end of it, I felt like this story I connected to it. One of the best films I've seen this year. This film speaks to people differently don't take the reviews of this seriously. It is something everyone needs to see for themselves. It resonates differently with different people.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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4

easterfieldsOct 10, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I was all in for the first 90% of the movie. Sure it was a slow burn and there were some very strange plot choices that never seemed to go anywhere, but I had hoped that somehow everything would come together in a beautiful blasphemy of disturbing reveals in the final act. It doesn't. And it's a shame that I felt so underwhelmed by the ending, because all the things I had issues with (the reveal of the baby's body too soon, the CGI looking very outdated, the husband's brother serving absolutely no purpose to the plot whatsoever, the overall look of the end creature, the plot's crawling pace, etc.) could've all been forgiven with a truly epic conclusion that I felt was a worthwhile payoff. But it wasn't. And instead, after watching the one person who was truly innocent throughout the film (aside from the child) get murdered for no other reason than a 5-year plan of revenge by the goat f*****, I can't help but to feel let down. The concept is terrific. The acting is great. The cinematography is absolutely astounding to say the least! They had all the tools to knock this one out of the park, but instead it feels more like a ground ball to first base. The end creature could've been much more disturbing than some tall naked goat-man (how does he survive the below 0° temperatures in winter?). Baphomet or even Krampus (the movie literally starts off at Christmas) would've been so much more intriguing than what we got. Alas, I was suckered by a very very misleading and actually downright deceptive trailer for this film. Not cool.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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9

PanchogulNov 20, 2021

Lamb es una de las películas más WTF que he visto en mi vida, en determinados momentos se te llena la mente de preguntas que eventualmente nunca tendrán respuesta, los hechos que les toca acontecer a los protagonistas pondrá a prueba laLamb es una de las películas más WTF que he visto en mi vida, en determinados momentos se te llena la mente de preguntas que eventualmente nunca tendrán respuesta, los hechos que les toca acontecer a los protagonistas pondrá a prueba la paciencia del espectador y si acaso vale la pena seguirles el paso, pese a que no hay respuestas a nada, es una belleza en todos los aspectos y el final parte de lo desgarrador a lo confuso.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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9

alejandro970Jan 14, 2022

This is one of those movies that comes from one in a thousand. I explain? At first the viewer does not know what he is seeing, at least until he follows the plot in detail; that without counting a disconcerting ending that leaves a strangeThis is one of those movies that comes from one in a thousand. I explain? At first the viewer does not know what he is seeing, at least until he follows the plot in detail; that without counting a disconcerting ending that leaves a strange taste in the mouth. It deserves a chance.… Expand