Colors of Evil: Black Review: This Netflix Polish mystery film delves deep into the inner workings of small towns once again as Prosecutor Leopold Bilski finds himself facing yet another child abductor. After getting punished post the events of the last film, Bilski finds himself embroiled in small-town politics, a place where everyone is more than happy to leave each other’s misdeeds buried. As Bilski dives into this dark investigation, things get more and more disturbing.
The gritty and dark atmosphere of the film distinguishes it from others in the genre as it explores the emotional scars left behind by tragedy.
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Who is in the Cast of Colors of Evil: Black Netflix?
Jakub Gierszał, Marianna Zydek, Zdzisław Wardejn, Róża Łukaszewicz, Beata Ścibakówna, Adam Bobik, Andrzej Chyra, Bartosz Mikulak, Dorota Ruśkowska, Cezary Łukaszewicz
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Who Has Directed Colors of Evil: Black Movie?
Adrian Panek
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What is the Original Title?
Kolory Zła: Czerń
The movie has a runtime of around 110 minutes and is an adaptation of Małgorzata Oliwia Sobczak’s bestselling novels.
Colors of Evil: Black Review
Returning to the Darkness
After being transferred to a small town, Prosecutor Leopold Bilski finds himself facing yet another mysterious case after a young boy goes missing. This leads him on a path where he exposes the long-buried secrets of the small town, where everyone seems to be hiding something. Much like the previous film, this one, too, strays away from being a traditional whodunit and explores deeper social issues that leave lasting scars.
In Colors of Evil: Black, Bilski finds himself in a new environment, but dealing with familiar problems, where the crime is only the start, as it explores familiar problems that are absolutely terrifying. As Bilski investigates and pushes through the red tape surrounding this case, he realises that things are completely opposite to what he had initially thought.
The film creates an ominous mood from the onset, highlighting that there’s more to the story than meets the eye. The rural setting is isolated and haunting, as the mystery overshadows the crime. Bilski’s conversations with the townspeople seem to expose secrets concealed within one another, and every lead leads to another dead end.
Atmosphere Takes Centre Stage
As mentioned previously, the film is more about creating an atmosphere that highlights the central mystery. It’s not just about a missing kid; it’s about a flawed system that has taken advantage of people for decades. As Bilski pushes past the silences, he exposes more disturbing situations that are hard to comprehend. Rather than relying on jump scares of graphic violence, we see the film scaring viewers using mood and uncertainty. The mere implication of the truth is enough to leave anyone on edge.
The cinematography aids in telling this story, as we see the bleak landscape becoming a character of its own. It aids the film to become more than just a police procedural, as the psychological tension and push and pull become the main attraction. From forests to quiet homes, everything seems uneasy and frightening, thanks to the secrets that they hold.
This is something that the film did a good job with in Colors of Evil: Red, and it upholds that same tension in this film as well.
A More Complex Leopold Bilski
Jakub Gierszał’s Bilski is the anchor that keeps the film grounded. He’s a human being with a strong moral compass as he exposes the truth about the grief, trauma and the community’s failure to protect those within it. As he, too, gets slowly overwhelmed by the darkness that he exposes, we see a human being become vulnerable and broken. This approach makes it easy to root for him as the emotional layers make him a compelling protagonist.
Mystery Over Spectacle
As with the last film, Colors of Evil: Black handles the central mystery with a grounded approach instead of jumping to spectacle to create scares. While the eeriness of the surroundings is definitely a plus, the story, too, is quite disturbing. What stands out is how deep the rot exists in this small town and how far people will go to protect bad people for their own gain. The clues and revelations come out naturally as Bilski slowly investigates and puts two and two together, creating a rather intriguing watch.
Where the Film Stumbles
With all of that being said, Colors of Evil: Black‘s story is obvious, as we have seen it many times in the past. While the execution is great and keeps viewers invested, it’s nothing new that will leave you shocked. As we learn the truth behind the disappearance, things do walk on somewhat obvious paths.
Final Thoughts
Jakub Gierszał’s stoic but grounded portrayal of Bilski and the fantastic cinematography make Colors of Evil: Black stand out, as does the mystery surrounding the small town. While small-town horror films are a dime a dozen, this one leaves you feeling rather disturbed by the time the end credits roll and the truth is exposed. It’s not without its problems, but overall, this one’s entertaining.
Watch Colors of Evil: Black on Netflix. What are your thoughts on the film? Let us know in the comments below!
