Written by Andreas Babiolakis

This is a review of a film from The Great Canadian Horror Film Festival that just concluded. Click here to find information surrounding the upcoming The Great Canadian Sci-Fi Film Festival.

Bart van Dekken’s The Norah Zone is a cynical look at a dystopia that can very well be around the corner: cannibals roam around, the last survivors of an atomic weapon have to fend for themselves, and anything can happen. I understand that the film is a serious-yet-fun look at a nightmarish future through the lens of a straight-up horror film, but I did find its pessimism — and problematic and excessive language, particularly regarding how women are treated (I understand the world being painted, but too much can feel really off putting) — to be a little detrimental. In that same vein, however, is a film that is even slightly in line with the works of controversy like Man Bites Dog, especially with its occasional moments of intended hand-recorded realism. The message is heard loud and clear: this is not a prophecy we wish to fulfill by any means.

The Norah Zone tiptoes between fun and danger, and this tonal balance certainly works in its favour. Unlike some of the other shorts covered here, I feel like the full scope of the story is realized enough here, but if there were to ever be a feature version or a sequel, some additional storylines to showcase more angles of this wasteland (maybe like a Gummo of sorts), and this kind of world building would be the place to start. Outside of not giving in to the edginess of the film to the point of being a major issue, The Norah Zone at least has something interesting to say about the concerning state of our world and where we may end up if such a global disaster took place; maybe we should be better equipped and prepared with love and understanding before then. I’m not in love with The Norah Zone’s execution, but its vision is a strong and effective one, and it’s the blueprint that Bart van Dekken can continue to work with and evolve from, should he continue to make horror films.

Andreas Babiolakis has a Masters degree in Film and Photography Preservation and Collections Management from Ryerson University, as well as a Bachelors degree in Cinema Studies from York University. His favourite times of year are the Criterion Collection flash sales and the annual Toronto International Film Festival.