Lamb (2021) | Movie Review

In ‘Lamb’, Farmers María (Noomi Rapace) and Ingvar (Hilmir Snær Guõnason) tend to their land and animals in a remote part of Iceland. When one of their sheep gives birth to a baby lamb, the couple decide to take it in as their own child, in order to salvage a dying relationship. But all is not right when Ingvar’s brother comes to find that the young lamb is very peculiar.

A24 is known for giving audiences strange, beautiful, and dark films that challenge their viewers with each film. ‘Lamb’ is a very simple story that succeeds in its concept but fails in properly executing it for me. Namely when it came to how the storytelling felt too withholding of important information to the point where at the end you are still relatively in the dark about what you just watched.

I loved the atmosphere and location in ‘Lamb’. It’s one of those locations where you wonder how anyone could survive but also it’s beauty was showcased in a great way. Seeing the day to like of sheep breeders and farmers only having each other to survive was immediately putting you in a place of empathy. Teeing you up for what’s to come.

When the film takes its intended path, you see how subtly disturbing everything feels while also very relatable with the couple. The acting is crucial to making you believe everything your seeing and both lead performances were excellent. Where I started to become lost was in the nuanced storytelling that may be too withholding of information to let you know what’s going on.

I’m always down for something out of the ordinary especially from A24, but this films story is abusing not giving the audience information and hiding behind that instead of telling a fleshed out story. I may be in the minority but that’s just me.

Overall, I had a decent time with ‘Lamb’. If you love A24 check this out. It may not be the studios best film but as always I love A24 for swinging for the fences. There are great performances but the story doesn’t reveal enough for me to feel satisfied with at the end.