Starring: Aneurin Barnard, James Cosmo, Wunmi Mosaku
On the day he moves out of his flat in a dilapidated tower block, Johnny (Barnard) witnesses his pregnant girlfriend (Amy Shiels) being assaulted and injected by a gang of what look like small children. Nine months later and Johnny is suffering from severe agoraphobia; caring for his infant daughter (Arlowe and Harry Saunders) whilst their mother lies comatose in a hospice with little hope of recovery. Late one night some small hooded figures ransack Johnny's house, letting him know that their nasty plans aren't finished with yet.
A dramatic low-budget horror film, Citadel tips it's hat to many other genre classics. The hooded thugs call to mind both Don't Look Now (1973) and The Brood (1979), whilst certain sequences also call to mind the likes of Demons 2 (1986) and The Bird With The Crystal Plumage (1970). The film's main thematic focus is on fear and whilst this creates the needed oppressive atmosphere, it also has its problems in turning the protagonist into a bundle of nerves before the real horror even sets in. Unable to pitch the fear any higher, instead there are sequences where he confronts the hooded figures with only slight fear, whereas earlier he almost faints because of a power cut (although some of this could be explained as part of his character arc). The film thunders along and the moments of violence really do feel tough, a testament to Ciaran Foy's direction although some moments do fall afoul of that common trap of turning horror towards unintentional dark comedy, such is its odd story and plot turns. There isn't much of a plot here and the rather short film doesn't out-stay its welcome as it does its job as a horror film, but is nothing truly remarkable.
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