Day Night Day Night

Writer-director Julia Loktev's Day Night Day Night has none of the elements usually found in what passes for "suspense" films these days—no overt violence, no sex or nudity, no special effects or things that go bump in the night. Yet this highly original movie is surely one of the most gripping, disturbing, and, yes, suspenseful releases in recent years. The protagonist is a raccoon-eyed, not especially prepossessing young woman of about 20, played by Luisa Williams. We know virtually nothing about her, and while a couple of personal details eventually emerge, the only thing that really matters is that "She" (as the credits identify her) has been recruited to go to Times Square in New York with a 50-pound nail bomb strapped to her back. In the first half of the film, three hooded, all-business terrorists come to her motel room to help her prepare; in the second half, she makes her way to Manhattan to execute the plan. What makes the movie so intense is Loktev's attention to the mundane, combined with the deliberate pace, long shots, claustrophobic camera angles, and heightened sonic detail (there is no music, but never before has the sound of an automobile turn signal or the crunch of an apple seemed so excruciating), which together create a palpable sense of foreboding. Highly recommended. (S. Graham)