Movie Review: ‘Solvent’ – Unraveling Obsession and Hidden Horrors.

‘Solvent‘ is a found-footage style horror film directed and co-written by Johannes Grenzfurthner. It tells a story that dives into the eerie and unsettling world of obsession, history, and hidden evils.

The story follows Ernst Bartholdi who leads a team of experts, including American expatriate Gunner S. Holbrook (played by Jon Gries), to search for Nazi documents in an abandoned Austrian farmhouse. What begins as a simple expedition into the past soon unravels into a mystery of an explainable evil that seems to be associated with the farmhouse.

At first glance, ‘Solvent’ appears to be a complex horror film, yet at its core, it is surprisingly a simple story about a house with a dark past and people searching for answers. The real depth of the film comes from how it is presented. Grenzfurthner’s approach to the found-footage genre adds a level of intimacy and realism, making you feel as though you’re uncovering the truth alongside the characters. This clever narrative trick works well, especially for viewers who appreciate subtle storytelling that stimulates some thinking.

In the first few minutes of the film, the team show up at the abandoned house that belongs to Ernst Bartholdi‘s grandfather who has gone missing for several years. Their mission is to find some important Nazi documents for university research. However, things take a sudden turn when a freak accident kills one of the team members, immediately shifting the tone from curious exploration to something more sinister.

The narrative jumps forward several months, and we see Gunner S. Holbrook becoming increasingly obsessed with the mystery surrounding the house and its connection to Ernst Bartholdi’s missing grandfather. His mental state deteriorates, driven by his desire to solve the mystery, and he returns to the house alone, determined to finish the film he had started about the search for the Nazi documents. This obsession becomes the heart of the film, and Gunner’s slow descent into madness mirrors the unravelling of the farmhouse’s secrets, the missing grandfather and the strange death.

One of the film’s strengths lies in its commitment to the found-footage style. The dialogue feels natural, giving the film an authentic documentary feel, and the actors’ performances help make this believable. Jon Gries, as Gunner, delivers a strong performance that captures his character’s growing instability. Johannes Grenzfurthner himself plays the role of Ernst Bartholdi. His portrayal of a man desperate to uncover his grandfather’s past while hiding secrets of his own, adds some layers to the story. Their performances accentuate the film’s naturalistic dialogue and leans well into the film documentary feel as well.

The majority of the shots come from Gunner’s point of view, which results in some quirky, and at times, odd moments. There are even random, seemingly unnecessary shots of the characters’ privates. While some of these sequences may feel disjointed or excessive, they serve a purpose: they are a reflection of Gunner’s unravelling mind. As he struggles with solving the mystery, his perspective gets somewhat chaotic and the camera captures this as a depiction of his mental decline.

Despite the perspective seeming like handheld shots typical of found-footage style films, the visuals are crisp and smooth, offering a surprisingly polished look for an indie production. The editing, which incorporates some sporadic inserts of archival footage and photographs, adds to the film’s authenticity and enhances its unsettling tone. These archival elements blend well into the narrative, giving the impression that the audience is watching something both real and deeply disturbing put together by the character Gunner.

The art direction deserves special mention as well. The farmhouse, which is the primary setting, is filled with decaying books, mold, and overgrowth, perfectly capturing the atmosphere of abandonment. Every detail adds to the overall mood of dread, as the house itself becomes a character in the story, holding secrets that haunt the viewer just as it does the characters on screen.

Regardless of all this, ‘Solvent‘ is a film that requires patience and, for some viewers, multiple viewings to fully appreciate. It feels like a slow burn that you might easily lose focus on if distracted. The layered storytelling may be difficult for some audiences who prefer a more straightforward horror experience. But for those willing to invest the time, perhaps in multiple rewatches, it might reveal itself as the convincingly simple horror story that rewards careful attention.

Undoubtedly, this is a film that requires multiple viewings to appreciate. It may not be for everyone but it provides a chilling, slow-burn experience that keeps your mind in a frenzy.

‘Solvent’ is a decent contribution to the found-footage horror genre. I would score it 6/10. Do check it out and have some patience for it.