Ali Abbasi | Sweden | 2018 | 108 mins | R16 sex scenes, nudity, violence, sexual abuse themes & content that may disturb

Based on a short story from Let the Right One In author John Ajvide Lindqvist, this genre-defying supernatural romantic thriller draws us into the mysterious life of a gifted outsider. Iranian-born Swedish filmmaker Ali Abbasi has adapted and expanded Lindqvist’s cunning tale with assistance from the author himself.

Stout and ruddy with a puffed-up face and a pronounced overbite, customs officer Tina is used to being ignored, but her unique talent for literally sniffing out illegal contraband makes her an invaluable team member at the ferry port she works. She lives with a boyfriend who is more interested in his growling show dogs than spending any time with her. Tina only feels truly at home in the verdant woods surrounding her home, bonding with the wild animals that live there

One day a strange man passes through the port that sends Tina’s senses tingling, but a search for contraband comes up empty. The man, Vore, shares a similar appearance to Tina and she soon becomes obsessed with finding more about him, but in doing so uncovers a dark secret about herself.

— Michael McDonnell, NZIFF 2018.

“An exciting, intelligent mix of romance, Nordic noir, social realism and supernatural horror that defies and subverts genre conventions.

— Alissa Simon, Variety