This is as perfectly formulaic as they come; however, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. There may be no real surprises or revelatory twists for a seasoned viewer, but there’s a classic ghost story here, dripping in atmospherics and with surprisingly excellent child actors as the central focus. The setup is quite well done, and the direction and settings never too dark to be obscure, an all too common failing in this genre focus. The film skews less towards fright and more towards a melancholy and elegiac tone, an examination of mortality and grief. There are no jump scares or gibbering ghouls, just disquiet and building dread. There is always tragedy in a ghost story, and this film does attempt to wrench some heartstrings. Unfortunately, this film’s pacing is sluggish and the whole film could easily be trimmed down without losing any effectiveness. While not a film to satisfy those seeking horrific sights and thrills, this movie serves a nice ghostly mystery that will appeal to fans of the slow-burn quiet horror.
Martyr's Lane (2021)