Watch Citadel

Citadel is a suspenseful, horror-thriller film from 2012 that showcases the dark side of urban life. Directed by Ciarán Foy, the film stars Aneurin Barnard, James Cosmo, and Wunmi Mosaku as the leading characters. The story begins with the main protagonist Tomas (Aneurin Barnard), who is a widowed father battling his own inner demons while simultaneously trying to maintain his role as a parent. He suffers from agoraphobia, which makes him fear venturing outside his apartment complex. Tomas's wife was brutally attacked by a gang of hooded teenagers in the stairway of their building, leaving her seriously injured and their baby prematurely born. While the baby survived, Tomas's wife did not, and Tomas blames himself for not being there to protect her.

After the incident, Tomas is determined to leave the apartment complex with his baby, but he is haunted by his fears and a sense of helplessness. The scene of his wife's attack still plays out in his mind, and his fear is compounded by the sense of isolation he feels. His anxiety is further intensified when he notices that the gang responsible for his wife's attack is once again lurking around the building.

Tomas's only respite from his overwhelming anxiety is provided by his therapist, who he meets regularly through video calls. His therapist advises him to confront his fears, but Tomas struggles to heed her advice. However, when his fears become too much to handle, Tomas decides to fight back against the gang members who are stalking him.

Amidst all this chaos, Tomas meets a friendly neighbor Marie (Wunmi Mosaku) who helps him feel more comfortable. But his newfound sense of peace is short-lived as he finds that his own baby has been kidnapped by the same hooded gang that killed his wife. Tomas is left with no option but to venture out of his apartment and confront the gang in their lair – a dilapidated and abandoned hospital – to save his baby.

As Tomas ventures deeper into the hospital, he discovers a much darker and sinister world than he ever imagined. The hospital is infested by hooded, feral children who are the products of abusive experimentation. The hooded gang-members have been taken over by this parasitic entity, and Tomas finds himself in a battle of survival against both the gang-members and the feral children.

Filled with chilling moments and unpredictable twists, Citadel is a movie that seamlessly blends psychological horror with visceral violence. The film is a reflection of the fear that grips modern society, where urban decay has left its citizens vulnerable to the mayhem of gangs and violence. The film's cast does an exceptional job, with Aneurin Barnard's portrayal of Tomas being particularly noteworthy. He delivers a powerful performance and effectively communicates the harsh realities of mental illness, grief, and fear.

In conclusion, Citadel is an intense and gripping film that immerses the viewer in a world of urban decay and phobia. Its production values are top-notch, with highly effective use of sound and lighting to complement the chilling visuals. The film's unique take on the horror genre, coupled with its focus on mental health issues and society's urban decay, makes Citadel a standout film that transcends genre conventions.

Citadel is a 2012 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 24 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.5 and a MetaScore of 60.