Movie Reviews

‘Aberrance’ review: Mongolian horror film attacks the senses

Stylish and confusing.

October 3, 2023

Aberrance sets the stage for a city versus country horror movie. Erkhmee (Erkhembavar Ganbat)takes his wife Selenge (Selenge Chadraabal) to a remote cabin in the Mongolian wilderness to allow her time to have some peace and quiet. Their new neighbor notices strange and violent behaviors and decides to investigate further. This only leads to more questions as things continue become stranger.

The dichotomy between city slickers and people who live away from the hustle and bustle has made for some of the most interesting stories in horror. The differences in morality, outlook on life, and decision-making all point to a fundamental gap in society. It is also an easy way to introduce more varied characters.

Even the most bare bones horror schlock will touch upon the dissimilarities with goofy caricatures or silly jokes. Aberrance takes a more surreal approach that stands out for its uniqueness, but is also hit and miss. More often than not, the visuals take precedence over the narrative.

This is not much of a surprise as Baatar Batsukh makes it clear that Darren Aronofsky is an inspiration. This does not make it any easier to unpack what the film is going for, however. There is no denying the creativity of the visuals, but the vague storytelling will frustrate some audiences. Aberrance is a multilayered story that deals with addiction and rage. Combined with a relatively short run time and erratic tonal changes, it makes for a jarring watch.

Still, there is a style and mood that make Aberrance intriguing. It attacks the senses with violent imagery and a well constructed score. The thin script also manages to pack in some impressive twists and turns. Those looking to add a sensory experience to their 31 Days of Halloween should check this out.