MINORE **** Greece 2023 Dir: Konstantinos Koutsoliotas. 111 mins
Konstantinos Koutsoliotas, who directed and co-wrote (with Elizabeth E. Schuch) this Athens-set mesh of Greek mythology and JAWS / John Carpenter-infused monster movie, has an extensive background in visual effects, having worked on blockbusters including GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY and Guillermo Del Toro’s anthology series CABINET OF CURIOSITIES. His feature-films to date, notably THE FEAR OF LOOKING UP, displayed a fondness for cosmic horror and dark humour – and MINORE continues in that vein, albeit on a more ambitious level.
It smartly takes its time getting to the creature feature stuff but assembles an eclectic group of characters to populate its highly cinematic island backdrop. Sailor William (Davide Tucci) is on shore leave and in search of his long-absentee father (Meletis Georgiadis) in a small Greek coastal village. He befriends appealing waitress Aliki (Daphne Alexander) right before the community is overwhelmed by a portentous dreams, a mysterious mist and ultimately attacked by sea creatures inspired by Greek myths. The fight back accommodates an amusing ensemble of locals including amateur musicians, criminals, a man of the cloth, a spunky grandmother (scene stealing Efi Papatheodorou), a bodybuilder and a bartender played by Eurovision contestant Christos Callow.
The local colour energises the build up to some splendidly realised confrontations with Lovecraftian big-eyed, tentacled creatures, brought to life by some excellent practical FX and gore. The cast are in the spirit of the thing, finding humour and pathos amidst the broader themes of religion, cultural inheritance and small town attitudes. A quirky, busy alternative to soulless CG-dominated Hollywood monster movies.
Review by Steven West