This is an instance of a film where the highs are very high but the lows are way to frequent and dominant. 90% of the runtime consists of unengaging drama due to a meandering script. Some pivotal scenes fall flat thanks to Donald Sutherlands unconvincing performance, the opening tragedy in particular. That set the stage for a tentionless story.

I admire the unconventional narrative structure, chilling conclusion and thoughtfully placed imagery sprinkled throughout though. If only what surrounded those elements was of equal qaulity.

This feels very A24 horror in both good and bad ways. It has the same drab, dreary and cold visuals as well as the slow pacing and religious themes found present in movies like The Witch, The Blackcoat's Daughter or Hereditary. It even reaches a similarly ominous and ambiguous conclusion.

In isolation it's an effective movie, although I couldn't help but feel like I'd seen everything here before in a better film. It's also one of those situations where after looking at the poster and reading the synopsis, the first thing you think this will be, is exactly what it is. That's a little disappointing.