Quartile rating: 5.5/10 · 1 rating
A ragtag group of public sector employees battle not only their own discord but also a bloodthirsty killer during a seemingly innocuous retreat.
The Conference is a Swedish slasher-comedy that brings a mildly fresh workplace satire angle to the genre, poking fun at corporate retreat culture and public sector dysfunction while bodies pile up. The blend of social commentary and horror is reasonably engaging and gives it a modest novelty bump over generic slashers. However, the acting is uneven across the ensemble, with only a handful of performances landing convincingly, and the cinematography is workmanlike at best — serviceable but unremarkable. The plot follows familiar slasher beats with a thin mystery wrapper that doesn't fully pay off, and the ending feels rushed and somewhat unsatisfying, failing to bring the satirical threads together with any real punch.