Colonia

Although genuinely gripping — at times, uncomfortably so — the tale of Lena and Daniel’s efforts to escape from Colonia and expose its abuses suffers from a heavy-handed telling.

The end product is a standard-issue cult drama that nevertheless has its gripping moments thanks mainly to the presence of Emma Watson.

Set in early 1970s Chile, and prefaced with archival footage of the final days of Salvador Allende's presidency, The Colony paddles indecisively in the unspeakable ills of the Pinochet era without ever really taking the plunge.

Rather than a grand buildup, Colonia just gives the sense of one thing happening, and then another thing happening.

It somehow manages to feel more like a Hallmark Channel romance than like a serious film.

Nothing more than leftwing exploitation cinema, a cheap thriller dressed up in the guise of a social-justice exposé.

Colonia marks a truly misguided attempt to fabricate a Hollywood-style thriller out of the darkest quarters of Latin American history.

The only caveat for me would be Emma Watson, who I couldn't believe completely. But Michael Nyqvist is one of the best villains I've seen in ages, and the movie keeps a gripping pace from start to finish.

Some risk taken in romance were unimaginable. First of all, I did not know it was a real event based film until the texts from the film's end. But even before that I liked it very much. The film was very edgy, I have not seen such film in a quite long time. It feels like a familiar theme, but that is only the theme, the story was marginally different. Emma Watson was amazing, maybe this her best performance I have seen so far in her career. Daniel Bruhl was not bad either and so other co-stars. The locations, the atmosphere created for narrating the tale, all were amazing, just feels like a very real. The story of a young German couple in the 70s Chile, when the military coup takes place, the supporters of the overthrown president were arrested including these two. Now they are separated and one of them was sent to a secret detention camp. The other one decides to rescue him by risking her own life by joining the same organisation. That's the film to reveal how she plans and all other troubles during her undertaking. Despite what this film reveals, very sad to read the end text. I have been looking for such kind of thriller for some time, so really I'm happy I saw this one. The pace was moderate, but the developments at the right time gives the edge. So from the entertainment perspective to revealing facts, this film well managed. From the director of 'John Rabe', another same intensity film, the majority of those who watch it would definitely like it. The thriller film fans must not miss it. 8/10

Slow, uncomfortable, gripping and based on real events. Quite harsh at times once you know this, but definitely worth the watch if you can handle the reality of military dictatorship. Emma Watson is nice to watch on screen, she is however hard to believe in her role with the choices she makes.

I'm not very familiar with the abuses of the Pinochet regime and appreciate that they may be better addressed elsewhere. But as an examination of the inner workings of crypto-fascist sect Colonia Dignidad, of torture and the escape of two young people, this thriller held me on the edge of my seat. I had to stop the video several times because I could not stand the suspense. Grim, relentless and utterly terrifying.

A kind of film you want to fast forward in some places , It started good then you'll feel bored if it wasn't based on a true story I would probably just stop watching , Since I like movies based on true stories I had to wait until the end to write a review. If you are a Watson fan its fine to watch as she did fine in her performance in this movie and I wish she'll do better in future choosing a good scripts that fits her more in order to improve her acting skills , If you're not a fan of hers nor a true story movie, I really don't recommend it so only because its a true story I'll rate it as a watchable and my watchable rates starts from 5