Rob Broekhof When I read the abstract I was intrigued and when I watched it I was astonished by the beautiful scenery and the story and the fact that at some points it felt hallucinating. It also has a very grim aspect, especially at one point in the movie, and that's why I gave it a nine. I don't mind grim, but during the scenes I mean, it didn't feel right. On the other hand it did. As a matter of fact it's similar to the experience of the main character. It's not all that clear and at the same time it's extremely clear. I love that about this movie. This movie might be depressing to others but to me it was uplifting to see that the story goes on, regardless of time, place & presence.

The Couchpotatoes If I had to believe all the positive reviewers on here I would be watching masterpieces every day. And also for The Wall, whom for a lot of reviewers is a masterpiece apparently. But for me it isn't. Why? Because you don't get any explanation about the invisible wall around her. If there would have just been a little attempt to explain I would have scored it a six. And also if the woman in question that is trapped for so long would at least try something to pass the invisible wall by digging, looking how high it is or whatever but no none of that all happens. Instead you get a narrating voice of the woman in question during the entire movie. There is basically only one human character played by Martina Gedeck, and then you have her animals. The narrating voice teaches you a lesson in life. It's about loneliness, compassion, the meaning of life, pain, struggle, solitude and so on. Not bad but not enough to make it exceptional.

Mort Payne The wealth of glowing reviews for this film fooled me into thinking I'd see an innovative work of art. Several positive reviews talk about the hidden messages, the deep symbolism, or the metaphor that detractors just didn't understand. But this film's allegory is so heavy-handed and obvious, as soon as the real story begins, you'll know exactly what the director is trying to shove down your throat, and the rest of the film is little more than a series of boring reiterations of that same ridiculously obvious idea. Furthermore, the story, like its protagonist, never changes. The film could end after she first discovers the wall, because nothing of significance changes after that. Sure, she moves to a different cabin, her dog dies (apparently three different times), and she has a visitor (which offers even more of an allegorical cliché than anything that comes before it), but it's all just shades of the same grey color scheme this story is painted with. Perhaps the book is better, and perhaps if I was living in the pre-feminist, pre-deconstructionist 1960s, I might find the ideas and the story fascinating, but I've heard all of this far too many times before by now, and in much more insightful and interesting forms. The stars I give it are for the lead actor's performance (she was wonderful) and the cinematography (it was beautiful). Everything else worked against this film.

Venkatesh Panchapakesan I have not read the book nor read about the movie before watching it.Almost everything about this movie is brilliant - location story cinematography acting editing - should have belonged in my top list of favorites. It is not. Even with the thematic similarities with Cast Away (7.7), Life of Pi (8.1) and elements from The Mist (7.2 - looking inwards at the face of a larger unknown), this premise and the story works beautifully. Stunning visual compositions and the soulful performance absolutely stand out.What positively do not work are the monologues and the music. 'The wind was howling and the house was creaking' is something that needs to be written in a book – to say the same thing in the movie is an annoying intrusion while the audience is riveted with the visuals, sound and performance. There is at least 50% excessive pointless monologue in the movie – anybody heard of the use of silence? The movie is meant to be philosophical and inward looking. Lingering beautiful shots will be totally understood by the audience who are willing to invest in a movie like this. Why impose a monologue when it is only going to kill the impact of the moment? See Cast Away for comparison – for almost one hour in the movie there is no music no monologues – just the background sounds.The "music" is unsuitable and almost completely not required. It is disappointing that the director who could write such screenplay, extract such magnificent visuals and riveting performance has no taste in music.Perhaps with 15 less minutes and 50% less monologues, it could have made it to top ranks instead of the 6.7 it currently is.