MOVIE REVIEW – “Colors of Evil: Red” is a new Polish crime thriller that delves deep into the dark world of brutality and human cruelty. Directed by Adrian Panek and starring Jakub Gierszał and Maja Ostaszewska, the film tells a complex and disturbing story in which blood and the search for justice take center stage. Based on the novel by Małgorzata Oliwia Sobczak, the movie is not afraid to show the harsh reality in which the characters operate.

Monika was a vibrant young woman who was loved by everyone who knew her. But when her body is found dismembered on the beach, prosecutor Leopold Bilski (Jakub Gierszał) is the only officer willing to seek the truth. With the help of his grieving mother Helena (Maja Ostaszewska), Bilski is confronted with a dangerous world more brutal than he ever imagined. The Color of Evil: Red is directed by Adrian Panek, with a screenplay by Lukasz M. Maciejewski (Mother’s Day) and Adrian Panek, based on the novel by Małgorzata Oliwia Sobczak.

The dark depths of brutality

The story of The Color of Evil: Red takes us into a violent world dominated by the cruelty and indifference of its characters. The movie uses a series of torture scenes to illustrate the horrors Monique faces, but at times the brutality becomes too self-serving and loses its necessity.

The main villain of the film is a real monster. Even if only half of his actions were shown, he would remain a nightmarish figure. His exploitation of the system and the people’s willingness to tolerate it only make him more terrifying. However, the excessive attempt to show what a monster he is ultimately does not enhance the story of the film.

Confusing timelines

The level of graphic violence may be a problem for the movie, but the biggest obstacle is the opacity of the storytelling. The movie alternates between two points in time: the current investigation and the time before Monika’s death. While this approach in itself would not be a bad thing, the movie does not make it clear when events are taking place in the past.

The early scenes in the past narrative give the impression of being set in the moments before Monika’s death. This is confusing and confuses the viewer, as scenes keep popping up throughout the movie. Eventually, their structure and purpose become clear, but only after a great deal of confusion. This confusion throws the viewer off as we jump back and forth between time periods.

The present narrative offers an exciting, if not original, story. Bilski’s investigation is full of twists and turns as he delves deeper into the city’s violent underworld. Gierszał is excellent as the city’s last honest cop. The actor convincingly portrays the character’s determination without being overly heroic. There are no big speeches about doing the right thing, just a dogged determination to get the job done.

Colors of Evil: Red’s greatest asset is also how subtly he builds Bilski’s character. Throughout the movie, we are given tidbits of information about personal aspects of the character’s life. These elements are never fully explored, but the way they are mentioned in passing informs the viewer of Bilski’s motivations.

Helena’s struggle

Along with Bilski, Monika’s mother Helena is also searching for the truth. Maja Ostaszewska does a great job of portraying her character through grief. The story’s depiction of Helena’s struggle to stay alive and find answers is an extremely powerful storyline with a huge emotional charge.

But while the characters in the present-day story do well, it is Monika who really takes the cake. The Color of Evil: Red” is full of complex characters, but Monika’s approach goes beyond the others. The way Monika is drawn into the darker side of the world is a gripping story that allows her to make mistakes and still remain sympathetic. She makes big mistakes that lead her to the wrong place at the wrong time.

A gripping and tragic story

Colors of Evil: Red tells a gripping and tragic story that is powerful when the narrative is fully revealed. Despite its storytelling flaws and occasional self-serving violence, it’s a powerful story if you have the stomach for it.

-Gergely Herpai “BadSector”-