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The Main Competition Features winner for Best Picture at this year’s Fantastic Fest is a shocking thriller from Brazil, Property. Written and directed by Daniel Bandeire (Amigos de Risco), Property tells the story of a reclusive woman, Tereza, struggling to return to normal life after a traumatic event. Her husband finally convinces her to leave the house to spend some time at their country home, but when they arrive they are met by disgruntled workers from the husband’s farm, and some of them are out for blood.

Property is a bleak, suspenseful film that deals with issues of trauma and class warfare. At first glance, it seems to be a home invasion film, as this wealthy couple finds their home infiltrated by the farm workers. Yet this quickly changes as Tereza escapes the home to get into their new, heavily armored car. While this seems like the safest place she could be in these circumstances, Tereza can’t figure out how to start the high-tech vehicle. Much of the tension throughout Property comes from the claustrophobia of Tereza’s imprisonment, as well as the increasing chaos ensuing just outside her refuge. Every time it seems like the situation can’t get worse, it most definitely does. Bandeire also forces the audience to constantly grapple with who they are rooting for. In most cases, the obvious answer would be to root for the workers who have been wronged by their wealthy boss. But with each turn of events, the actions of the workers go to shocking extremes. Are these workers justified in their actions? Is Tereza’s husband the true villain of this story? And, most importantly, does Tereza deserve the terror and torment the workers unleash on her? These, and many more questions, are sure to plague audiences during and long after the film. You might never come to any clear answers, but the introspection Property ignites is sure to lead to some interesting conversations.

While Property has a well crafted story interweaving socio-political issues with real-life horrors, it does have some pacing issues. It can’t necessarily be classified as a slow burn. Instead, the majority of the film has a subdued tension that is punctuated throughout by horrific moments of disturbing terror. Imagine how a heartbeat looks on an electrocardiogram with longer, steady lulls interrupted at regular intervals by large spikes. That is often how the pacing of Property feels. Those moments of shock will leave many audience member’s jaws on the floor, though the more calm moments between might be a bit too long and frequent, making the overall pacing feel on the slow side.

As in any thriller, the performances are vital to Property‘s success. Malu Galli (180 Graus, Além da Ilusão) stars as Tereza. Of all the characters in this film, Tereza is the only one who could be considered truly innocent and undeserving of the torment she receives. Galli delivers an outstanding performance, easily conveying Tereza’s fear from her past trauma and the new terrors, eventually leading to her conviction in wanting to live as she fights for survival. Even with the character generally having few lines once the suspense kicks in, Galli takes the audience on an emotional journey that endears them to Tereza. The rest of the cast deliver authentic performances with many of the farm workers coming across as very real people, which makes their actions all the more horrific to watch.

The crew working behind the camera used their skills to enhance the appeal of Property. A notable visual element is the cinematography by Pedro Sotero (Bacurau). From taking in the beautiful, sprawling countryside landscapes to anxiety-inducing tight shots from inside the armored car, Sotero’s work certainly sets the mood throughout the film. While used sparingly, the practical effects implemented in some of the more disturbing moments of violence not only look fantastic on screen, but they also add to the tension. There is a lot of chaos and carnage amidst the stunning scenery, and the crew took great care to make sure that came through visually as much as it does through the acting and plot.

Property initially seems like a typical “eat the rich” film, but what it actually delivers is a hauntingly bleak thriller with no clear villains or heroes, only individuals trying to survive in an increasingly violent, capitalist society. Bandeire manages to craft this film from a fairly neutral standpoint, allowing the audience to come to their own conclusions about the various characters as the story unfolds. While the uneven pacing might leave some audience members wishing the plot had been tightened just a bit, Property is still guaranteed to start some interesting conversations. With Galli’s superb performance and a jaw-dropping ending, Property will leave a lasting impression on all who watch it.

OVERALL RATING: 7/10