You’ll Want to Speak of the Horrors that Lay Within Azrael (2024)

Title: Azrael

First Non-Festival Release: September 27, 2024 (Theatrical Release)

Director: E.L. Katz

Writer: Simon Barrett

Runtime: 86 Minutes

Starring: Samara Weaving, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Vic Carmen Sonne

Where to Watch: Check out where to find it here

Any horror film that delves into the apocalypse must contend with the intrinsically speculative nature of its setting. How does the world end? Who is left behind and what society forms in its wake? These questions, and more, bring life to a world that is either nearer than we hope or farther than we can imagine.

Azrael (Samara Weaving) is a young woman scavenging in the forest with her partner Kenan (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett) when they are abducted by a religious cult intending to sacrifice them both to the monsters of the forest. Right as she is about to be fed to a creature, Azrael manages to free herself and flee with her captors in hot pursuit. Injured, stalked, and desperate to find her lover, Azrael faces against the horrors of the forest to persist through the apocalypse.

Azrael is a riveting survival film that goes beyond its no dialogue gimmick to deliver some nasty revenge horror.

Without a single utterance of dialogue, Azrael create a terrifying world that becomes quickly familiar through well-crafted context clues. The scar on Azrael’s throat becomes a recurring symbol of her lack of voice in a world determined to snuff it out. The mystery goes deeper when it becomes evident that the cult pursuing her shares the same mark, implying an affiliation of some kind at some point. Little details like this allow Azrael to build its world in organic and compelling ways without feeling the need to stop and explain itself. What could easily hinder the film with unnecessary barriers becomes a prime example of strong storytelling and world building.

There isn’t much to the plot behind Azrael, but this becomes its biggest strength in keeping the mystery alive for the audience. As Azrael dives further into the depths of the horrific world where she was already scraping by to survive in, she uncovers more lurking beneath the dangers she already knew existed. The more Azrael unfurls, the more it merges other subgenres together to create its story. The driving force of love leads to Azrael’s revenge against the cult for kidnapping her lover against the post-apocalyptic hellscape. These transitions lead into something even creepier in the end when she exacts her plans of revenge in a fury of brimstone and bullets.

Samara Weaving is a force to be reckoned with in any film, and still she takes Azrael to great heights with her impassioned portrayal of a woman pushed beyond her limits in a cruel and confusing world. Without the ability to speak, Weaving commands attention with her emotive facial acting and physicality. While Weaving is known for her signature scream, her ferocity is never diluted despite her silence. She brings Azrael’s love, fear, strength, and courage at every turn, making her transformation from helpless captive to formidable slayer feel earned.

Awash in dark and disturbing imagery Azrael brings the horror alive with its impressive assault on the senses. Because the audience is thrust into Azrael’s world without much explanation beyond a brief written prologue, much of the story is communicated through visuals. And Azrael doesn’t play around when it comes to its violence. There’s no question that this world is pure horror considering its commonplace ritualistic sacrifices and its lonely forests stalked by demons. Blood and fire cleanse the screen almost as often as they purify the cast. Riddled with chaotic chase scenes yet balanced by the creeping dread of Azrael lying in wait from the monsters, human and non-human alike, Azrael never relents, making it a thoroughly satisfying horror experience.

Niche for sure, Azrael is a haunting and exhilarating take on religious horror that does enough differently to warrant a watch. A delightfully gory and action-packed adventure through a darkened world, Azrael delivers on its grim premise with aplomb. Some may find the lack of dialogue gimmicky, but it adds a layer of complexity to the film which makes its story more engaging for those patient enough to tune in. Journeying through the wasteland of a collapsed society is daunting enough on its own, be sure to watch Azrael and keep her company; you won’t regret it. 

Overall Score? 7/10