Written & directed by Mehmet Akif Büyükatalay, Hysteria is a German thriller. The film stars Devrim Lingnau, Aziz Çapkurt, Serkan Kaya, Nicolette Krebitz, Nazmi Kırık, and Mehdi Meskar. When a burned Quran is found on a film set, the production takes a dark turn that throws the crew into turmoil. Intern & 2nd assistant director Elif (Lingnau) is thrown into a game of accusations, lies, and secrets.

This entry of the Berlinale film festival was one of my most anticipated. The film’s events take place on a film set, which sounded intriguing for me. The main character is also in a position that I used to work in and still feel very passionate for. The film also has plenty of religious themes with a horror undertone that sounded perfect for what kind of movie I was looking for. Dark and spooky film set movie with heavy themes? Sign me up.

First off, Devrim Lingnau carries this film on her shoulders. So far, the film festival has not disappointed with giving us strong female characters. Lingnau brings so much anxiety to her performance that you feel it with her. The rest of the cast along with Lingnau is quite impressive from the way they deliver their dialogue to the way they present their fear. It also helps that filmmaker Mehmet Akif Büyükatalay uses the horror tones to explain how dangerous hysteria can be.

The film’s pacing may not be for everyone. The third act can even feel a little redundant, but it ends on a powerful note that is open-ended enough to leave us with a lasting impression. From the visuals to the tones, this is an eerie slow-burn that will get under your skin. When I think of how powerful movies can emotionally and mentally, this is the kind of movie I think of.

Overall, Hysteria was one of my most anticipated of the festival, and so far, it’s the best one. Filmmaker Mehmet Akif Büyükatalay gets their point across thematically while Devrim Lingnau and the rest of the cast deliver solid performances from start to finish. I can’t wait to see what a broader audience thinks of this one.

VERDICT: 4/5 (Great)