Good afternoon, House of Madness occupants:
There's a slow burn, and then there's a burn so gradual that you actually find yourself wondering if there's actually been anything lit in the first place. Sometimes taking the long way around instead of driving directly to your destination can be an adventure, and by the time you arrive at your stop, the fun and excitement you experienced along the way can leave you forgetting why you're there in the first place. Unfortunately for "Family Dinner", the slow burn it attempts to execute ends up completely charring a decent story, and you'd better watch your step if you intend on avoiding the numerous plot holes.
Simi (Nina Katlein) is a teenage girl currently struggling with her weight. She heads out into the countryside to spend a week with her aunt Claudia (Pia Hierzegger), her uncle Stefan (Michael Pink), and her cousin Filipp (Alexander Sladek) during the Easter break. Claudia is a well known author and dietician, so the plan is to get Aunt Claudia to help Simi get on track with a sustainable diet regimen. Once this plan is made known to Claudia herself, she is reluctant to help, but eventually decides she will do what she can as long as Simi promises to take the diet seriously. Simi is then told she must fast with Claudia and Stefan for the entire week until Easter dinner, where they can all eat to their heart's content. All the while, however, Filipp is able to gorge himself on delicious foods, and there are no restrictions as to what he can or cannot eat until the big day.
Now, at this point of the film, myself and I'm sure everyone else who watches it will be hoping that there's more coming down the pipe than the obvious conclusion they're insinuating, right? Unfortunately, no. Not only does the film go straight down the overly beaten path it has alluded to, but when the credits rolled I had so many questions as to the motive of Simi being there in the first place. It's too bad because in a film boasting such great atmosphere, cinematography, and acting, there's very little new to actually see here that hasn't already been done several times over, so it's hard for me to recommend based on these key factors. That being said, if you don't mind watching a story that's been told better several times before, and just want a fairly straightforward slow burn horror film, then perhaps "Family Dinner" can whet your appetite on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
Madness Meter: 5.3/10
