Fantasmagoría 2024 - Review of Mudbrick by Nikola Petrovic

Fantasmagoría 2024 Festival Coverage – Review of Mudbrick by Nikola Petrovic, a notable Slavic folk horror film.

The village of Činiglavci, located near the Bulgarian border, where the film was actually shot, is part of the Pirot region, known for its mountainous landscape, picturesque beauty, and the preservation of many ancient Serbian traditions, including folk music, dances, and customs. In this remote village, in the 1950s, during the time of the director’s grandparents, a real story took place involving two brothers who fought to the death over an inheritance.

Mudbrick is a haunting and powerful blend of one of the most universal and timeless family tragedies with rich Slavic mythology.

Among the traditional legends is one that mentions a pagan ritual to the deity Veles, practiced by shepherds to ensure fertility and protection of the cattle. Veles is the ruler of the underworld, though this mythology also gives him a dual aspect, softening his malevolent nature, as he is associated with both death and regeneration.

The story of this feature film begins with an evocative image. A family (father, mother, and daughter) are seen praying devotedly and on their knees in front of a tree: "Forever in eternal debt. Oh, mighty God. What do you seek in return?" Meanwhile, Paul, a middle-aged man, is forced to leave Britain and head to his parents' village to inherit a modest mudbrick house. Upon arrival, he discovers that his presence is unwelcome by his brother, his niece, and his sister-in-law, as well as by the rest of the villagers, who react with suspicion and wariness whenever they see him "wandering" the streets.

His arrival occurs in the seventh spring, and gradually we will discover what will happen with the hostile welcome and the purpose of his visit after decades of absence, and what happened in the previous springs. Mudbrick unfolds in parallel, with a fragmented montage, blending the divine and the mundane in its plot.

In this mythology, Veles holds an unceasing battle with the celestial god Perun, representing order and chaos. Meanwhile, Paul must face an irrational struggle against his brother Jakov, as Jakov insists that he is the one who has lived in, cared for, and maintained the family home and therefore has no intention of giving it up.

Mudbrick is a film that requires close attention, as it leaves clues with small but very significant details through the erratic gestures and behaviors of its protagonists. Starting with Paul himself, who has the ability to appear at moments where he is not invited. His pregnant niece, Ana, avoids him and sends hidden messages. His sister-in-law, Natalija, also gives him cryptic warnings, and his brother, who refuses to yield in his resentment, constantly reminds him of the pride their father once had for him and the Englishman he became.

Seen from Paul's perspective, the director uses him as a vehicle to, like Jakov, set a trap for us, as the true reality of what happens in the village of Pirot is different. It is brilliant how the director, Nikola Petrovic, chooses to tell this story, which brings us the classic tragedy of sibling conflicts that we have also seen in Christianity, with fights between brothers driven by jealousy, envy, and revenge, like Cain and Abel, Absalom and Amnon, or Esau and Jacob. The twist in this plot is expertly paced, hidden, and resolved in its conclusion.

Mudbrick is considered a micro-budget film, and yet, all of its components are very well executed, offering great entertainment by appealing to the basics: a solid and well-structured script; carefully crafted music and sound design essential for the genre; and superb performances, especially Andrew Howard’s brilliant portrayal of the madness and frustration he feels as he begins to lose control against his brother and the relentless deity who comes to claim yet another sacrifice. Howard’s dedication to the role was so intense that a symbolic scene involving a wall required neither practical effects nor post-production.

Without a doubt, Mudbrick is a remarkable representative of Slavic folk horror.

Technical Details:

Direction: Nikola Petrovic
Screenplay: Nikola Petrovic
Duration: 87 minutes
Genre: Supernatural, folklore
Produced by: John Henry Hinkel, Milica Jokic, Jelena Kosara, Andrew Ostapchenko, Aleksandar Protic, Marija Vicic
Cast: Andrew Howard, Philip Brodie, Kamka Tocinovski, Joakim Tasic, Dusica Nastova, Pedrag Momcilovic
Editing: Bojan Kosovic, Ana Zugic
Cinematography: Ana Melentijevic
Country: Serbia
Year: 2023

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