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4.5/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 4.5/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Röda dagen remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Look, if you enjoy Swedish cinema from the thirties and don’t mind a movie that feels like it’s vibrating with its own self-importance, you might get a kick out of Röda dagen. If you’re looking for a tight, modern political thriller, stay away. This isn't exactly high-octane stuff.
It’s essentially a movie about people being very, very stressed about a planned communist takeover in Stockholm. August 1st looms over everyone like a bad thunderstorm.
The pacing is… well, let's just say it takes its sweet time getting to the point. Sometimes I felt like I was watching the characters wait for the kettle to boil, and then the kettle never actually whistles.
There’s a specific scene involving Jideon Andersson that just feels off. He’s supposed to be this menacing figure, but he kind of comes across as someone who forgot his grocery list. It’s hard to tell if it's the acting or just the way the camera lingers on him.
I couldn't help but think about how different this feels compared to something like The Black Book. While that one feels like it’s racing against its own shadow, Röda dagen is just sort of shuffling its feet.
The whole thing feels a bit dusty. You can tell they really wanted to capture this grand sense of dread, but it lands more like a mild headache. It reminds me of the way things get a bit messy in The Wild Party—not that the movies are similar, just that they share that feeling of people acting because they think they have to.
Don't look for a grand conclusion here. The movie just kind of stops. It leaves you sitting there wondering if you missed a scene, or if the director just got tired of filming.
It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s definitely not boring in the traditional sense. It’s just... weirdly focused on all the wrong things. Maybe that’s the point? Or maybe they just ran out of film. 🤷♂️