An Exchange (2019)

A couple argues about leaving their vacation cabin until they discover it might be too late.

A strange and obscure ritual in the forest opens the film. A shaman is performing some kind of blood ritual on an unknown subject, cult members stand near him holding torches. He finishes the ritual by pouring blood on the stomach of the subject, places his hands in the blood and looks up toward the sky. The next scene opens with Tuuli awake in bed. She gets up and goes downstairs where she discovers Kaspar, her partner, sitting alone by the fire. They have a discussion that turns into an argument as Tuuli wants to leave but Kaspar wants to discuss a discarded pregnancy test he found. Tuuli becomes frustrated and begins crying and Kaspar agrees to leave but is interrupted by the sound of drumming outside. Through a window he sees cult members with torches approaching the cabin. Tuuli walks to the kitchen window and as she looks out a torch passes right in front. Surprised, she falls down and Kaspar runs over to help her to the couch. As the cult members begin circling the cabin Kaspar runs to the kitchen to grab a knife. Tuuli begins having a seizure on the couch and Kaspar runs back to try to help her. Hands have begun slapping the windows and as the noise reaches a crescendo it suddenly stops. Tuuli takes a big gulp of air as the seizure stops and she comes to. The cult members begin leaving and Kaspar goes outside to get the car. As he walks toward the car a figure can be seen emerging from the shadows by the house following him. Back inside the cabin Tuuli hears a loud noise and the car alarm begins going off. She gets off the couch and approaches the front door. She hears footsteps coming toward the door and begins backing away as the door opens. It is the shaman and as he walks toward her she protests. As he reaches her he stops and tells her that it is done and the others are waiting for them in forest. They must finish the ritual while Kaspar’s blood is still warm.

Keywords: kultus | sacrifice | põnevus | betrayal | rituals | relationship game | summer house | shaman | ignorance | nightmare | View all »