The Storm Review: A Hilariously Twisted and Absurd Netflix Comedy

The Storm Review: In this Swedish dark comedy drama film, all bets are off as soon as the film starts. A group of friends gather at a declining bed and breakfast joint where a storm forces them all indoors. However, things soon go out of hand as a batch of magic mushrooms bring out their true selves, creating the perfect storm!

The film, beyond the absurd insanity, brings forth an interesting topic that will leave viewers hooked to their screens. As the film progresses and the insanity escalates, things take an uncomfortable turn. Along with the rising tension among the friends, the storm, too, adds to the tension as it keeps them from running away from the situation and, in turn, from the truth.

The cast includes Gustaf Skarsgård, Aliette Opheim, Filip Berg, Josephine Bornebusch, Jonas Karlsson, Johan Rheborg, Christopher Wagelin, Sara Shirpey, Gizem Erdogan, Henrik Dorsin, Nils Wetterholm, and Nicole Levin. The film (Stormen) is written and directed by Josephine Bornebusch.

The Storm Review

A Birthday Party That Goes Horribly Wrong

Filip and Caroline throw a lavish party at their home that doubles as a B&B with their closest friends to celebrate his 45th birthday. Only this has an ulterior motive – Caroline wants Filip’s established college friends to invest in the B&B, which is bleeding money and will otherwise go out of business. Desperate to keep her dream alive, the two embark on a journey to make the party a success, only for things to go horribly out of hand.

The film, although very irritating at times, has a very interesting storyline taking place behind the scenes. With the added issue of having unwittingly consumed drugs, the group find themselves confronting their greatest secrets, lies and fears as it all comes tumbling out. Things get increasingly out of hand as the storm gets worse and, eventually, the group has to face the breakdown of their carefully constructed public personas. The remote setting creates a great atmosphere for these secrets to surface, as a one-location film creates a claustrophobic helplessness unlike any other.

All of this gives The Storm ample time and opportunity to explore familiar themes of friendship, resentment and the distance between how people present themselves and how they actually feel. Whether it be the disconnect between friends, couples or themselves, the film highlights the lies that we tell to ourselves and others and how that leaves us feeling lonelier than before.

Josephine Bornebusch Blends Comedy With Uncomfortable Drama

As with every one-location drama, The Storm‘s success rests on how well these characters and the escalating tension work out. Bornebusch, who also reprises the role of Kina in the film, balances comedy and drama in a film whose USP is escalating a chaotic situation by introducing more absurd situations. The awkward exchanges, uncomfortable situations and rising discord among the group hint at something deeper and more problematic at its core. The more Filip and Caroline try to control the situation, the worse it gets.

The film does a great job balancing humour and more serious emotions in a way that makes both stand out. While the humour might feel a bit over the top sometimes and some situations are a bit too uncomfortable, the emotions underneath shine more often than not and will make viewers look into the different ways they handle opinions and criticism. As we see the group desperately trying to keep their worst qualities hidden, it holds a mirror up to the viewers to see where we, too, might be going wrong.

The Ensemble Cast Brings the Characters Together

With a film like this, it’s the cast that makes the biggest impact, and that’s true for The Storm as well. The film’s cast is phenomenal at bringing out the crazed energy that leaves the screen electrified. Gustaf Skarsgård, especially, is great as we see the building tension in his performance as his character desperately tries to keep things together to keep his wife’s dream alive but slowly loses any semblance of normalcy or sanity. Everyone else is great as well, and viewers will be able to see that these characters have been longtime friends who have lost touch with one another.

The premise gives these characters ample opportunities to showcase a wide range of emotions as it introduces more and more absurd situations. The more the situation develops, the more the characters are forced to choose who they are and what they are willing to leave behind as they expose themselves more and more. It’s very interesting to watch it all unfold.

Can a Storm Become More Than a Plot Device?

The weather is more than just a backdrop and creates the ideal situation for the guests to face the truth without giving them an escape route. It’s also a showcase of the characters’ internal struggle, a representation of what everyone is going through and the turmoil they are facing to keep up a facade in front of everyone. The storm, thus, reflects the emotional barriers that the characters have kept up for years – their shared history doesn’t reflect understanding, despite maintaining a harmonious front for years.

Final Verdict

In the end, The Storm is much more about the emotions raging inside than out. The film is an interesting showcase of emotions and how adults keep the truth hidden to bring out a more accepting version of themselves. It’s a hilarious, insane and eye-opening watch, one that can sometimes get on your nerves!

The Storm is streaming on Netflix right now. What did you think of the film? Let us know your opinions in the comments below!

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