Crushed

Olivia has disappeared. The ten-year-old wanted to find out for herself who was shooting the brutal videos that were circulating at the school. Now she herself is in terrible danger. While her mother despairs, her father, a preacher in a Christian community, accepts the situation as a test from God. Simon Rumley returns to BIFAN after 2017's disturbing Fashionista, with Crushed, a challenging film that will no doubt get deep under the audience's skin. The violence is rarely shown directly, leaving much to the viewers' imagination, thus creating an overall oppressive effect. He further tests viewers' patience by avoiding sensational horror elements found in a revenge thriller; rather, he suggests holding off on our emotions and takes a moral stand as the story unfolds. Uncomfortable, nihilistic, and dark, yet fascinating in its edgy staging, Crushed signals a triumphant directorial return for Simon Rumley. (Jongsuk Thomas Nam)