Traumatika is an emotional horror story that focuses on generational terror. Mikey (Ranen Navat) has been plagued by night terrors. Things become worse when his mother begins to show signs of demonic possession. The following years affect the lives of Mikey and his entire family.
The cycle of abuse is an underused theme in horror. While there are many movies that touch on it – “His mother was crazy, so that means he must be also” – few tackle it in a realistic manner. Filled with strong performances and a gripping tale, Traumatika is able to do just that. While an argument can be made that the characters are not very rounded, there is still development that makes the film an engaging watch.
Due to its subject matter, Traumatika is filled with uncomfortable moments. This will be a difficult watch for many. This makes the use of gore that much more effective. Pierre Tsigardis is able to walk the thin line between scaring the audience and not exploiting familial trauma. The result is a movie that is both shocking and terrifying.
The pacing is where things begin to unravel. The first half is the strongest, using first-person shots and great camerawork to constantly pull the audience in. This is when Traumatika is at its best. A jarring tonal shift in the second half continues to take on its unnerving themes, but also feels out of place. The lack of cohesion is far from being a dealbreaker, but it does take away from an otherwise great film.
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