Emma Watson has come a long way since starring in the first Harry Potter film at he age of eleven. Whilst she may be fated to be best remembered for her role as Hermione Granger, Watson is beginning to amass an impressive CV. Roles in The Perks of Being a Wallflower and in her latest film The Colony are beginning to show that she’s got a lot more to offer. The latter is her most rounded performance to date.
After landing in Chile on a four day stop-over, Lena (Watson) decides to surprise her boyfriend Daniel (Daniel Brühl) who’s been in the country for a few months, only to discover that he’s been working with freedom activists. The next day the pair find themselves in the middle of the 1973 Pinochet military coup. When he’s abducted by the secret police and taken to Colonia Dignidad, a secret camp run by the mysterious preacher Paul Schäfer (Michael Nyqvist), Lena vows to do anything it takes to get him back.
Inspired by true events, director Florian Gallenberger does a great job of setting the period within the confines of a limited budget. Whilst it doesn’t always hold together, The Colony paints a bleak and disturbing picture of one of Chile’s darkest moments in history. Watson, Brühl and Nyqvist are all superb, the latter personifying the image of manifest evil. The Colony is an enthralling, disturbing and chilling thriller featuring a great cast.
The Colony is out in cinemas from Friday.
