Synopsis
Two young orphans in the Tirolian Mountains come under siege by a vicious band of hunters. Frightened of being separated by child services following the death of their mother, a self-sufficient 16-year-old girl and her 10-year-old brother - who hasn't spoken a word since seeing his father killed by the mayor - strive to live off the land in peace. Their innocence is shattered, however, when a group of hunters led by the mayor's son brutalizes and rapes the free-spirited girl. Later, when a well-meaning social services worker arrives too late to protect the terrorized siblings, the girl and her brother prepare to take a stand against their ruthless attackers.
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Cast
- Sophie LoweThe Girl
- Peter StormareThe Mayor
- Maximilian HarnischThe Boy
- Gustaf SkarsgårdThe Butcher
- Tim Morten UhlenbrockThe Friend
- Annica BejhedThe Social Worker
- George LenzThe Clerk
- Nelly GschwandtnerThe Hunter's Wife
- Julia DietzeThe Butcher's Wife
- Hansa CzypionkaThe Priest
Recommendations
- 63
Philadelphia Inquirer
Some viewers will dismiss Autumn Blood as a pretentious Euro-art iteration of Straw Dogs. For those willing to be open to its experimentation and more charitable about its many faults, the film can provide a powerful experience and serve as an fascinating testament to the tenuous nature of the social contract. - 60
Village Voice
The structure of Autumn Blood and its metaphors are obvious, but what makes it engaging, even haunting, are the messy flesh-and-blood characters. - 38
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
An odd, unpleasant 2011 thriller from Austria only now earning limited U.S. release. It’s a reminder of why so few filmmakers experiment with visual-only storytelling. It’s hard to pull off. - 30
Los Angeles Times
Whereas Haneke's films grapple with the blunt force of violence, novice filmmaker Markus Blunder just lets the violence snowball all the way down a slippery slope.
