source: Sator

source: Sator

Sorry critics are giving this a higher score than the conjuring what ever they're smoking I'll invest my life savings into!! This film is a 4 only for the creepy woods cinematography . The story is downright stupid with no saving grace at all. The acting is mediocre at best and it made no sense at all. There are 3 scenes of some action otherwise it's people looking at each other. If you like watching trees grow and then watching paint dry this is for you.

Unsettling as it is challenging. Beautiful as it is uniquely disturbing. This is a film few may get on the surface--- unless you've seen a few ambiguous types of horror--- where the layers of reality versus what is channeling levels of occultism, possibly brought on by family's mental illness? Or is it reality... Everything is blurred just enough where the viewer isn't entirely let in, until, that is, the timelines begin to intersect. This film delivers on just about every level of what is a true auteur making his vision of what is true to himself, and not bowing to tropes or studio pressure. Immerse yourself into Grahams story and not only will it terrify, it delivers. Hagazussa was a recent film that delivered in a similar fashion for me, both with cinematograpic excellence and an underlying low-end drone backscore that defines what is a true sense of dread throughout. This is not for the fan of traditional or nu-horror, but one of film independence, bringing atmosphere like few can, and staying true to your vision with a tale that keeps the viewer engrossed while nothing is quite clearly defined. This is a true masterwork that some will truly appreciate (read it took 6 years to make), and some will have difficulty with. This felt like a film that was made for me. It's exactly what I want in horror. Solid and taut directing that has me wanting more from Jordan Graham. 9.5 stars.

Here's a film about men with beards and an old lady that hears voices. And some spooky stuff in the woods too. It's a good eerie setting and the silence works for tension building but character motives are never established. A lot of what is happening is implied. Maybe I missed a bit or a lot of the subtext. So while I could dismiss Sator as cryptic nonsense, it's very well made to string you along and is visually pleasing throughout, enough so that's it's an alright film overall.

Well if you're a "horror fan" but you tend to only watch the Freddy/Jason/Michael Myers movies over and over, this movie is not for you... However, if you like movies like "The Witch", "Blair Witch Project" and can get into existential dread and supernatural horror, this creepy and cohesive movie will cast a spell on you and pull you in. Quite a bit is left unknown, and quite a bit is a puzzle so there is some work on behalf of the viewer. You can't merely just watch with your loud bros and throw your popcorn up in the air and scream and giggle when the next jump scare happens. The acting is minimal and emotive. Most of the dialogue comes from Nani/Grandma who doesn't merely act, she IS the character. You'll see what I mean. To me, this is the creepy heart of the movie. Visually it's dark, dreary, atmospheric and full of doom with Pagan references and a dash of what I would call a rustic, Cascadian Black Metal aesthetic. I loved the raw, minimal grit of the cinematography which is really well done. Also, I suggest watching with headphones in order to get the whole quiet is loud vibe of the film. The sound design is spot on as well. For me, a longtime and avid horror fan, very rarely do I find the kind of movie that I wished I had made. It goes up there with my classics. Sator is one that I would recommend to fans of existential dread, atmospheric horror, and people that love to be creeped out. Not "boo!" jump cut scared, but genuinely creeped out when you go to bed and then the movie lingers in your thoughts the next day. I loved Sator. I watched it last night and I think I want to watch it again today.

This film should have been entitled "Stupor" because that's what you'll be in by the time that anything remotely interesting happens. If you're look for a moody, atmospheric cure for insomnia, then "Sator" is the movie for you. "Slow burn"? That is a galactically monumental understatement. Watching this movie is like watching a series of still photographs, shown in torturously slow succession, where there are only miniscule changes to the photographs as they're displayed. This film would have to be elevated several levels to attain the classification of boring. I've been more interested and entertained watching the neighbor's dog taking a dump on my front lawn. You wait and you wait and you wait for something to happen... and it never does. The only element of "horror" to this movie is the valuable time that you'll kill by watching it. Do yourself a service and pass on this waste of film and resources. I have rarely been more disappointed after watching a movie than I was after watching this dreck.

Some films are worth waiting and sitting through, this isn't one of them. Creepy atmosphere, beautiful cinematography plagued with poor story and pacing. Disappointing to say the least.

You can tell there was a lot of thought that went into this movie. It had the same vibe as The Witch. Heard it took the director/writer 7 years to make this movie. Slow burn but the movie isn't very long so the slow burn works. Have to pay attention to understand the movie. It's fairly scary but doesn't top Hereditary or Sinister (two of the scariest movies I've ever seen). But it's a decent movie that will keep you on the edge. Way underrated for reviews.

The story centers on Adam (Gabriel Nicholson) who is looking for the Sator, a Wendigo like creature who lives in the woods. He listens to tapes of his Nani (June Peterson ) who now has dementia. She talks about the Sator using biblical language. Adam knows there will be a test, followed by suffering, and then purification. His mother had gone missing as well as his dog. The picture was dreary. I had no idea what was going on in this garbled mess. It was real, it wasn't real. He family was crazy, he was crazy. Not much in the way of normal conversation. And where did they keep getting all those beers? Guide: F-word. No sex or nudity.