When Silence Screams Louder Than Fear

Read Time:4 Minute, 35 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Fréwaka
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Genre: Horror
Year Released: 2024, Shudder 2025
Runtime: 1h 43m
Director(s): Aislinn Clarke
Writer(s): Aislinn Clarke
Cast: Clare Monnelly, Bríd Ní Neachtain, Aleksandra Bystrzhitskaya
Where to Watch: Streaming on Shudder on April 25, 2025

RAVING REVIEW: When horror sidesteps extravagant scares and instead patiently constructs dread from lingering shadows, it usually sets the stage for something special. FRÉWAKA makes a decent effort at this, pulling you into its world where Irish folklore quietly mingles with personal tragedy. The result isn’t always smooth, but there’s something oddly captivating about how this film chooses to tell its story, preferring atmosphere over action, whispers over screams.

Set against the backdrop of a remote Gaelic-speaking village, we follow Shoo, a nurse who's carrying emotional baggage heavier than most would be willing to bear. Her assignment seems straightforward enough at first glance: care for an older woman, Peig, who suffers from agoraphobia and believes that mythical creatures, the Na Sídhe, once took her captive. But in classic horror fashion, simple never stays simple for long.

Where FRÉWAKA excels is in the subdued interplay between its leads, Clare Monnelly as Shoo and Bríd Ní Neachtain as Peig. Their performances provide the film’s emotional core. Instead of relying heavily on dialogue, their dynamic grows through small gestures, glances, and pauses loaded with meaning. These quiet interactions underscore the psychological nature of the story, making viewers question whether the supernatural elements are genuine or a projection of inner turmoil.

One of the choices made by director Aislinn Clarke is her measured storytelling approach. By avoiding outright shock typical of mainstream horror, Clarke opts for sustained tension. Each scene is crafted to leave a lingering uncertainty, slowly building a sense of dread that sneaks up on you. It’s a refreshing technique in a genre that often leans heavily on immediate payoff. Clarke also chooses to incorporate Gaelic dialogue, which gives the narrative a distinct identity. The language adds a deep authenticity, enriching the film with cultural resonance rarely explored in horror cinema.

But FRÉWAKA does struggle when it tries to branch out beyond its central narrative. An interaction involving Shoo's supervisor disrupts the carefully balanced mood, feeling more like an obligatory plot point rather than something organically developed from the story. Such instances risk pulling viewers out of the meticulously built suspense. Also, while the film employs ambiguity as a storytelling tool, it sometimes takes it too far. Certain scenes and elements feel left intentionally vague to a frustrating extent, and this might leave some viewers wishing for a clearer direction or resolution.

Despite these hurdles, the film’s commitment to atmosphere deserves recognition. Clarke demonstrates her ability to weave personal grief and cultural mythology together without explicitly explaining every detail, allowing viewers to interpret events through their own vision. It’s this trust in audience interpretation that ultimately sets FRÉWAKA apart from other folklore-driven horror films. Rather than serving up neatly packaged scares, the film invites viewers to dwell on the haunting nature of unresolved traumas.

What might have elevated FRÉWAKA further is a stronger balance between subtlety and explicit narrative progression. Although ambiguity can indeed amplify tension, overusing it runs the risk of diluting its impact. Viewers willing to invest in the film’s methodical pace might find satisfaction in its subtle dread, but others might feel let down by the lack of concrete answers.

Overall, FRÉWAKA is commendable for how it tackles its narrative approach. Clarke demonstrates a clear intention in her storytelling and uses visual and audio cues to craft her suspenseful mood. The performances are strong enough to carry viewers through slower scenes, ensuring the emotional backbone of the narrative remains intact. Although not every decision lands perfectly, the film’s atmosphere, rooted in cultural authenticity and psychological realism, will stay with you longer than any typical jump-scare spectacle.

While FRÉWAKA doesn't entirely fulfill its ambitious potential, it leaves you with plenty to mull over long after the screen fades to black. Its strengths lie in how it combines cultural mythology with a modern psychological narrative, reminding us that sometimes the scariest stories are those that echo within us long after they're told.

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[photo courtesy of SHUDDER]

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