‘Twilight’ (1990) 4K Restoration Review – A Clawing Nightmare In The Vein Of True Detective

Directed By: György Fehér

Starring: Péter Haumann, János Derzsi, Judit Pogány

Plot Summary: In an isolated village, a schoolgirl’s body is found deep in the dark forest. Now, a retired detective must solve this crime, with mounting clues and creepy suspects that crop up. Will the secret of this poor girl’s death be uncovered? Or will it lead to more dead ends?

Sadly, the 1990 moody neo-noir Twilight has the misfortune of being virtually unknown by a mainstream audience. Even those firmly plugged into world cinema may find themselves hard-pressed to recall hearing about this one. It also now shares the name of a certain teen vampire series. After seeing this newly refreshed 4K restoration, it is our sincere hope that more cinephiles discover this staggering achievement. So, forget sparkly vampires, and strap in for this Hungarian noir that is brutal without being bloody and delivers a totally unforgettable experience.

Right away, Twilight lives up to its name, and holy crap this movie is chocked full of atmosphere. In this world that director György Fehér has crafted, there is an ever-present doom that haunts every single grime-coated frame. The movie opens with an aerial shot the deep dark forest, the very same where a little girl’s body will be discovered. Fehér grounds this film in a level of reality, yet hyper-stylized shots and a seemingly neverending fog gives the narrative a dream-like feeling. In reality, this puts the audience firmly in a nightmare that is clawing and gnawing at the pit of your stomach.

Fehér cut his teeth as a cinematographer, and it’s no surprise seeing how every single inch of this film is gorgeous yet deeply bleak and unnerving. He is even ballsy enough to let the camera just linger. For example, there is a scene in a classroom, and the camera slowly pans on the children, which evokes an unsettling feeling. In another scene, dramatic action happening inside a house is filmed outside peering in. It gives you a leering and perverse sense of voyeurism. It’s subtle yet highly effective things like this that really adds to this thick sense of unease. Clearly, the director is a fan of Bergman, as some shots and just the overall mood feels like it’s a beautiful homage to the legendary director.

As for the narrative, the plot has enough twists and turns to keep even the most hardened mystery fan engaged. It does not hurt that some suspects feel like they slithered right out of a Lynch production. Yet, this is honestly more of a mood piece, and ultimately, it dares the viewer to ponder the murder and nature of evil more than it does solving it. In fact, one could even go as far as to say this feels like the blueprint for season one of True Detective. That show does have conventional clues, suspects and dead ends, but it is more about the why’s than it is the who. If you like your murder mysteries wrapped up in a neat bow, you will find this a bit daunting. Fehér also doesn’t feel beholden to an action-a-minute plot, and the story unfolds at sometimes a glacial pace. Make no mistake though, this movie is never boring. The slower pace is masterfully handled and coupled with the incredibly bleak photography, further cementing its nihilistic tone.

Despite forever being lumped in with Twilight the vampire series, György Fehér crafts a stark, startling noir that is perhaps the best-looking film we have seen in a while. Those seeking a bog-standard mystery will get some of that, but it aims for so much more. Deep in the dark forest lay murder, chocolates and a forgotten gem that hopefully will finally be re-discovered.

The 4K restoration of György Fehér’s Twilight is currently playing in select theaters courtesy of Arbelos. For details on screenings near you, please check out the schedule here. 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjtSP8qnxPU]