Part of the film’s appeal is how swiftly it leaps from light and playful romance to terrifying outbursts of surreal violence, leaving the viewer on fertile ground never sure how to feel. It really goes from one extreme to another in one breath, leaving you scared but strangely wanting more. It’s worth noting director Kristina Buozyte contributedto, displaying a clear understanding of the balance between beauty and horror. Contributing to the uncertainty is the film protagonist Lukas, which like Aurora seems to bond with the man before moving away from him again. Let it be said there would be nowithout the fearless and dedicated performances of its two leads, with Jampolskis giving Lukas a dark undercurrent and Jutaite imbuing Aurora with life and love. One of my favorite scenes in the film involves Lukas in real time watching nurses clean the comatose Aurora, her legs adorned with scabs and sores. Clearly the possibility of a real romantic relationship with Aurora seems remote, but Lukas’ lust for her mind is so strong he doesn’t seem to care.