(2020)
Written and directed by Bryan Bertino
Starring Marin Ireland, Michael Abbott Jr., Julie Oliver-Touchstone, Lynn Andrews, Tom Nowicki, and Xander Berkeley

I had put this film in my “honorable mentions” in my Best Viewings writeup at the end of 2020, but I recently rewatched it again and felt I had to write up an actual review to maybe help others seek out this incredible film. But a bit of a warning, as good as this film is, it packs quite the punch, and will make you want to watch videos of cute puppies and such to bring you out from the darkness this film envelopes you with.

The film opens with an older lady seemingly alone on a goat farm, trying not to pay attention to the strange noises and things going on. We realize that her husband is in the other room, lying unconscious on the bed, slowly dying from a long-term illness. Shortly after, her daughter arrives on the farm, only to be told by her mother that she told her and her brother not to come. It seems her dad’s condition has worsened and her and her brother came back to the farm, much to the resentment of their mother for some reason. But we know that something strange is going on.

The next morning, the mother is found hanging in the barn where they keep their goats. As the siblings try and figure out just what is going on, more and more strange things keep happening, from what seems like delusions or strange visitors, the film just continues to go down a very dark path.

Filmed on Bertino’s own family farm, the setting there gives a very strange mix of something that one would normally consider home and friendly, but with all the dark corners and isolation, Bertino, along with DP Tristan Nyby, set up some incredibly creepy shots, with slow moving panning shots that just ooze atmosphere, as well as a sort of a beauty in the darkness. The use of shadow and light throughout the film is amazing. At night, there are very few lights on in the little farmhouse, so their use of those darkened corners really works, and they take full use of it. The sequence of when they find their mom is an incredible combination of beauty and horror.

The cast is very small, with Marin Ireland & Michael Abbott Jr. playing the adult children who have returned home. They represent the audience who come to this farm and start to witness the strange things happening. Each of them shows their grief and utter confusion about what is going on in their own way. Brought up not believing in God, they are even more puzzled at the things from their mom’s diary to the visit from a priest, that just may not be who he says he is. But it their performances, especially Ireland, that just cuts deep into your soul, watching them fall down deeper into this insanity as they attempt to figure it out. Ireland is perfect here because she has such sad and haunting eyes, it just is heartbreaking to see what her character is going through. We’re never told if these are good or bad people, or any history of why they left the farm, but what we do see and are told, it really develops their character enough to show they are trying to do the right thing, which is even more anguishing to watch the story unfold.

Also, a special shout out to character actor Xander Berkeley who plays the priest. He brings a special kind of terror to the screen, with a very quiet demeanor, his words are powerful and lasting. After being told that their mom, and them, didn’t believe in God or any of that, he looks up and says, “You think the wolf cares that you believe he’s real? Not if he finds you alone in the woods.”

Again, as much as I highly recommend this film, be prepared because this one is a slow and moody burn but will really grabs hold of you and doesn’t let go, still holding on long after the credits roll. Make sure you’re paying attention to the astonishing craft appearing on screen. Truly breathtaking.