The live-or-die situations of slasher movies typically center around young folks. It’s also common to see those threats occur in or around a school setting. So while most slashers have had a tendency to fixate on teenagers, the new Swedish movie The Conference refreshingly targets a group of adults. In this Scandi-flavored, hunt-and-kill story — one adapted from a novel written by Mats Strandberg — the would-be victims encounter danger during a work conference. However, no team-building exercise could have prepared them for what comes next.
Slasher enthusiasts will detect heavy notes of Christopher Smith’s Severance when watching this movie. Basic similarities aside, the eventual massacre in this story is a great deal more personal for the villain; the inevitable slaughter isn’t incidental. Yet even before the killer shows up, tensions are already running high in Patrik Eklund’s movie. These municipal employees’ work outing — really more of a vacation at the taxpayers’ expense — becomes plagued by infighting and dissent. Katia Winter’s character has returned from sick leave, and she immediately notices something is off about the plans to build a new community mall.
The Conference doesn’t exactly hide the killer’s motivation; the reason for revenge is spelled out with as much subtlety as a knife wound. Nonetheless, there is the standard whodunit element, albeit a weak one, for the discordant characters to solve when they’re not busy fleeing for their lives at the retreat. Eklund and co-writer Thomas Moldestad regretfully made the mystery too easy to figure out, but their movie makes up for that flaw in other areas.
This movie wastes little time getting the killing spree started. Right under the main characters’ noses, the antagonist picks off the retreat’s staff. This choice seems unfair — not that slashers have ever been considered fair, and nor should they be — yet these early deaths are a fierce reminder that everyone is guilty when it comes to capitalism. At least from the villain’s standpoint. Disagreeing with the unethical practices of big business won’t save someone from the killer either. Even the few morally correct characters here aren’t always safe.
Despite being emphasized as a comedy, The Conference wisely refrains from featuring any disruptive slapstick. The humor is instead more dry and verbal than outright physical and absurd. And although no single tone dominates the story, overall this movie leans toward humorous but with an increasing sense of urgency included. Especially once the killer comes out of hiding and reveals a ferocity as big as the oversized mascot head they wear. Certain characters continue to provide mild comic relief as the body count rises; their fates are paired with violence that is equally gruesome and amusing. Horror movies run the risk of diluting themselves if they’re too funny. This one, though, strikes a good balance. Several deaths are rather grisly, and no joke can change that fact.
Admittedly, The Conference brings nothing all that new to the slasher sub-genre. However, solid production values, colorful performances, and fun but brutal kills all help make this movie more appealing. As far as horror comedies go, this one works hard at being the best of both worlds.
The Conference is available on Netflix starting on October 13.
Image: Netflix
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