Not sure what others are looking for out of this film, but during my viewing the needle moved as high as an 8, but ultimately landed on 6 when it was all said and done.
It's not a bad film at all.
Is it scary?
Not really. But most horror films these days are not what I would define as terrifying. It's PG-13, but that has nothing to do with effectiveness of a psychological thriller.
This is very much a movie about the matriarchy. It's about mothers and daughters. It's about generational differences.
I know there are horror fans checking out as they read this, saying out loud, Nope, Nope. Not gonna do this one.
I think that would be a mistake. I wanted to like this film more than I did. And I didn't dislike it. Like most modern horror films, it just didn't have it.
It does have Sandra Oh. Whom I adore. I've never watched one second of Grey's Anatomy, but I've held this deep admiration for Oh since seeing her career-defining performance in one of my all-time favorite films, Sideways.
Here, she is excellent. As a guilt-ridden single mother who has created a peaceful, albeit secluded life as a beekeeper with her young daughter, played by the incredible Fivel Stewart.
She and her daughter spend their time mostly on the gorgeous expanse of their farmhouse property. Jarring honey, reading books, homeschooling, and literally burning the daylight.
You see, due to childhood trauma suffered from her mother, Sandra Oh's character has a fear of electricity. This knowledge is given out in the opening, so no spoilers here.
The small family of mother and daughter live by natural light during the day, and lanterns at night.
Their only social outlet seems to be in the form of Dermot Mulroney (another Alexander Payne fave-About Schmidt!) who plays Danny, and he runs the nearby country store and sells the family's jarred honey with the help of his niece, River (the always spectacular Odeya Rush!) At this point in the film, you might have questions such as I. Such as, what is the history of Danny and Amanda? It seems they have known each other for quite some time. Their professional arrangement is on full display now, but was there ever anything else between them, even briefly? At one point I wondered if he might be the father of Amanda's daughter, but then discounted the thought on my own as the film progressed. And then also, being so isolated. Wouldn't their honey business thrive at a local farmer's market or something? Couldn't they get out and do that? But then, maybe that whole electricity angle stops that from occurring in their history? I don't know.
Moving on, other than just the two of them, mother and daughter on that massive farm property, life looks pretty sweet. Gorgeous views. Low electricity bill. Chickens roaming around, pecking about.
It's all good, until a long lost uncle from Korea appears uninvited with the unexpected and even more uninvited remains of Amanda's estranged Umma, which translates to Mother.
It is explained that basically the longer her remains are kept in the suitcase, the worse things will get.
Well, you would think Amanda would just get to digging at that point. Why she doesn't is never really explained. There would be no movie, I guess is why.
There are some good scenes in this movie. All of the characters are likable. It's an interesting story. It is well acted and nicely directed. If there's anything to discover here it's the fantastic work of the writer/director, Iris K. Shim, and actress Fivel Stewart. Both show great promises of bright futures in the film industry.
The film runs a quick hour and twenty-three minutes. There are worse things you could do with your time. Just don't tell your Umma about it.
It's not a bad film at all.
Is it scary?
Not really. But most horror films these days are not what I would define as terrifying. It's PG-13, but that has nothing to do with effectiveness of a psychological thriller.
This is very much a movie about the matriarchy. It's about mothers and daughters. It's about generational differences.
I know there are horror fans checking out as they read this, saying out loud, Nope, Nope. Not gonna do this one.
I think that would be a mistake. I wanted to like this film more than I did. And I didn't dislike it. Like most modern horror films, it just didn't have it.
It does have Sandra Oh. Whom I adore. I've never watched one second of Grey's Anatomy, but I've held this deep admiration for Oh since seeing her career-defining performance in one of my all-time favorite films, Sideways.
Here, she is excellent. As a guilt-ridden single mother who has created a peaceful, albeit secluded life as a beekeeper with her young daughter, played by the incredible Fivel Stewart.
She and her daughter spend their time mostly on the gorgeous expanse of their farmhouse property. Jarring honey, reading books, homeschooling, and literally burning the daylight.
You see, due to childhood trauma suffered from her mother, Sandra Oh's character has a fear of electricity. This knowledge is given out in the opening, so no spoilers here.
The small family of mother and daughter live by natural light during the day, and lanterns at night.
Their only social outlet seems to be in the form of Dermot Mulroney (another Alexander Payne fave-About Schmidt!) who plays Danny, and he runs the nearby country store and sells the family's jarred honey with the help of his niece, River (the always spectacular Odeya Rush!) At this point in the film, you might have questions such as I. Such as, what is the history of Danny and Amanda? It seems they have known each other for quite some time. Their professional arrangement is on full display now, but was there ever anything else between them, even briefly? At one point I wondered if he might be the father of Amanda's daughter, but then discounted the thought on my own as the film progressed. And then also, being so isolated. Wouldn't their honey business thrive at a local farmer's market or something? Couldn't they get out and do that? But then, maybe that whole electricity angle stops that from occurring in their history? I don't know.
Moving on, other than just the two of them, mother and daughter on that massive farm property, life looks pretty sweet. Gorgeous views. Low electricity bill. Chickens roaming around, pecking about.
It's all good, until a long lost uncle from Korea appears uninvited with the unexpected and even more uninvited remains of Amanda's estranged Umma, which translates to Mother.
It is explained that basically the longer her remains are kept in the suitcase, the worse things will get.
Well, you would think Amanda would just get to digging at that point. Why she doesn't is never really explained. There would be no movie, I guess is why.
There are some good scenes in this movie. All of the characters are likable. It's an interesting story. It is well acted and nicely directed. If there's anything to discover here it's the fantastic work of the writer/director, Iris K. Shim, and actress Fivel Stewart. Both show great promises of bright futures in the film industry.
The film runs a quick hour and twenty-three minutes. There are worse things you could do with your time. Just don't tell your Umma about it.