WHEN ANIMALS DREAM (2014) **1/2 Sonia Suhl , Lars Mikkelsen, Sonja Richter, Jakob Oftebro, Mads Riisom. Affective yet stilted horror film from the Danes, first-time director Jonas Alexander Arnby about a cursed family - a young woman (Suhl) in a small town working in a local cannery is under scrutiny when her unknown past becomes a shocking reality: inherited lychanthropy from her vegetative mother (Richter). When push comes to shove in the constant hazing and bullying within her lame workforce the latent beast makes its presence known. Beautifully shot by Niels Thastum and a few twists on the old genre make for fine visuals as well as a sadly stoic turn by Mikkelsen (Mads' real-life bro) add some gravitas in spite of the thin plotting.

"When Animals Dream" is a pseudo Werewolf movie. The main character, Marie (Sonia Suhl) goes through some slow yet perturbing bodily changes and she doesn't know why. Her father wants to medicate her to prevent the inevitable but she'll have nothing of it.

This film starts of slow in a good way. It takes time to set the mood and introduce the setting and the characters. The problem is that it continued to be slow even after we were aware of the direction of the movie.

Although billed as a horror it was far more drama. They tried to make it too poetic; establishing mood with very little dialog and plenty of music, non-verbal communication and imagery. It maintained a somber mood much of the movie with only small glimpses of action.

What was clear was that Marie was the victim in this and the townsfolk were the ill-intentioned oppressors. That's how they painted it but that's not how I viewed it.

Marie is a small, docile, nubile young woman that still lives at home. She just wants to lead a normal life. Whatever happened to her, whatever she did as a result can hardly be blamed on her. Except that the world doesn't operate like that. People like safety and security even if from those without a heart to do wrong. Even though Marie was painted as and represented the underdog, she was nothing but.

It's not as exploitative as some may think (especially considering the English title),but more Art-house. So while this is a different beast (no pun intended) than "Let the right one in" (your dreams?),this still has a similar feeling to it. Not to mention a female character in the center of it. A really good movie (coming of age and other things that is) if you like your drama spiced.

Acting wise this is great and it may need some time to get rolling, but when it does there seems to be no stopping. Many people can also identify with the main actress/character, the way she feels and is being treated. There is more than a connection (though it does stop there of course ... hopefully) and that is being exploited, if anything.