The Girl with the Needle

Magnus von Horn’s “The Girl with the Needle” is a chilling historical drama that unearths the shadowy aftermath of World War I, painting a grim portrait of postwar Europe with the visual and psychological intensity of a horror film. 

Loosely inspired by the true story of Danish serial killer Dagmar Overbye, the film delves into the moral ambiguities and societal failings of the time, offering a complex and harrowing narrative that stays with you long after the final frame.

Set in 1919, the story follows Karoline (Vic Carmen Sonne), a young woman who works as a wet nurse at a clandestine adoption agency run by a secretive matron. The film slowly unravels the sinister undertones of the operation, creating a palpable sense of dread as Karoline grows suspicious of the agency’s true purpose. 

Sonne delivers a haunting performance, embodying a character torn between survival and the dawning realization that she might be complicit in unspeakable acts.

Von Horn’s direction ensures that every frame is steeped in menace. The black & white, and stark production design reflect the harsh realities of a Europe reeling from the devastation of war.

The film’s aesthetic amplifies its psychological terror, with Von Horn using silence, shadow, and the smallest of gestures to evoke a sense of creeping unease.

It’s a world where no choice is simple, and every decision carries the weight of survival or complicity.

Beyond its gripping narrative, “The Girl with the Needle” is a poignant critique of social inequality and women’s rights - or lack thereof - in the early 20th century.

The film does not shy away from the desperate lengths women were forced to go to when faced with unwanted pregnancies in a world that denied them autonomy. 

This harsh commentary is woven seamlessly into the fabric of the story, never feeling preachy but instead confronting the audience with the brutal realities of systemic discrimination.

"The Girl with the Needle" also shines a brutal light on the tragedies of war. The “heroes” of the battlefield, now disfigured and ostracized, are reduced to sideshow attractions, grotesque reminders of both the physical and moral scars left by the Great War. 

These moments are devastating. Reminding us of how societies valorize and abandon those who sacrificed for their nations.

Perhaps the most striking aspect of the film is its refusal to offer easy answers. As the plot unspools with the tension of a tightly wound thriller, we’re forced to confront uncomfortable questions about morality, survival, and complicity. 

Von Horn doesn’t hold the audience’s hand; he lets us sit with the discomfort, leaving us to grapple with the horrors that linger - not just in history - but in the human psyche.

“The Girl with the Needle” is not an easy watch, but it’s a must-watch. With its layered storytelling, masterful direction, and a performance from Vic Carmen Sonne that anchors the film’s emotional weight, it stands as one of the most haunting and thought-provoking films of 2024.

It’s a story of survival, betrayal, and the terrible choices people make in desperate times - a film that doesn’t just show you history but makes you feel its lingering spectres.