Get Away

The isolated Swedish island of Svalta sits far from the mainland, its rugged cliffs and mist‑shrouded woods providing a stark backdrop for a centuries‑old festival that the locals guard jealously. The community prepares for the event with a solemnity that feels both ancient and unsettling, hinting at traditions that have never fully emerged into daylight. The island’s stark beauty, with its frozen shores and wind‑swept moors, creates an atmosphere that is simultaneously captivating and unnerving—a perfect stage for a story that walks the line between folk horror and uneasy family drama.

At the heart of the film are Richard, a laid‑back father whose dry wit masks an undercurrent of anxiety; Susan, a mother whose stubborn curiosity is sparked by a personal connection to the island’s turbulent past; and their teenage children, Jessie and Sam, whose brash attitudes and sibling rivalry flavor the trip with palpable tension. The family’s dynamic feels familiar—a modern British household trying to carve out a shared experience while each member wrestles with their own doubts and desires. Their arrival coincides with the festival’s preparations, and the contrast between their casual expectations and the island’s austere rituals becomes a catalyst for both humor and dread.

Almost immediately, the Smiths sense that the locals are wary of outsiders. Stilted greetings, silent stares, and cryptic warnings from the ferry crew all suggest an unspoken rule about who may step onto Svalta’s shores during this time. As the family settles into a modest B&B, subtle oddities—disquieting glances, whispered conversations, and the occasional glimpse of masked figures—hint at a deeper, hidden current beneath the island’s picturesque surface. The tension builds not through overt threats, but through an ever‑present feeling that something in the community’s ritualistic preparation is deliberately being kept from view.

“Get Away” balances its scenic, almost lyrical portrayal of a remote Nordic landscape with a slowly tightening sense of claustrophobia and foreboding. The film invites viewers to wonder what lurks behind the islanders’ guarded customs and whether the Smiths will remain innocent visitors or become entangled in the dark heritage that the festival silently protects. The tone is a blend of eerie anticipation and dry British humor, promising a suspenseful journey that keeps the audience guessing long after the ferry departs.

Last Updated: December 27, 2025 at 11:27