From its gloomy opening to its tragic conclusion, Observance is a film that captivates the viewer with an inescapable sense of dread rarely felt in contemporary horror. Directed by Joseph Sims-Dennett, the film stands as a testament to Australia’s growing movie industry and the versatility of horror films. Borrowing from both classic sources, like Hitchcock, and relatively recent inspirations, like Takashi Shimizu, Joseph has managed to create a patient thriller that knows exactly when to start the scares.

The film stars Lindsay Farris as Parker, a grieving private detective on a new mysterious assignment that might be way more than what he bargained for. When Parker’s seemingly normal subject, played by the gorgeous Stephanie King, appears to be in danger, things quickly spiral out of control as the detective is left in the dark by his shady client and his own questionable mental state. Channeling the best of classic voyeur films like Rear Window while still clinging firmly to its horror roots with some terrifying moments that would make David Cronenberg proud, Observance presents us with a cleverly paced ride into madness.

Depressing tales of grief and obsession aren’t exactly new to the genre, but Sims-Dennett weaves enough subtle story elements into the film’s brief runtime that it’s hard to be disappointed when the credits finally roll. Observance may be a slow-burner, but that doesn’t mean that it’s empty, or even boring, for that matter. The more bloodthirsty filmgoers out there might be disappointed with the movie’s lack of ‘true’ scares, but that is more than made up for with the unsettling atmosphere and unusual story.

Lindsay Farris does a great job at making Parker seem like a desperate but still sympathetic protagonist, considering that the film as a whole depends on his reaction to the shadowy characters and events that surround him. King also proves to be a compelling actress, though her character is usually observed from afar and isn’t given enough screen presence to showcase her acting abilities. Despite this being an Australian production with a native cast, it seems that accents have been muted in favor of more traditional English, which is a curious choice by the filmmakers, though some of the actors slip up every now and then.

Observance is a peculiar little film, and though it’s masterfully crafted, not to mention a welcome change of pace from common genre fare, I suspect that quite a few moviegoers will have a hard time digesting some of its slower moments. The more patient viewers out there will certainly be rewarded for their attention to this old-fashioned thriller, but not everyone is into that kind of experience. Even so, though the art of cinema is constantly evolving, it’s nice to see that there are still some filmmakers willing to take a risk and respect their audience’s intelligence instead of providing unnecessary answers to every single aspect of the story.

Observance is available to pre-order On-Demand via Artsploitation.