Discover the Chilling Truths in ‘Séance’: A Horror That Cuts Deeper Than You Think!

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In the heavily congested horror genre, discovering something unique can be challenging. However, Vivian Kerr, both writer and star of the film, successfully achieves this with her gripping and deeply layered horror drama titled “Séance“. Kerr skillfully blends the supernatural with psychological elements within her haunting Victorian-era chamber production. At its heart, “Séance” is a profoundly human relationship drama that draws us in with its spine-tingling ambiance before captivating us with a narrative that compels thought rather than startling jumps.

Kerr has demonstrated a knack for deep character studies, as seen in her 2022 movie “Scrap”. In the film “Séance”, she continues this theme, delving even deeper and more intensely. The story revolves around four intricate characters, each concealing their emotional burdens beneath veneers of joy and satisfaction. However, it doesn’t take long for these delicate structures to begin cracking and falling apart.

A remarkable performance by Scottie Thompson stands out in the film’s compact yet stellar ensemble. She portrays Emma Strand, a successful novelist embarking on her sixth month of her second marriage with Albert (Connor Paolo). The couple live in Texas but decide to spend some leisure time at the beach in California. During their stay, they unexpectedly encounter Emma’s former husband George Ford (Jilon VanOver) and his wife Kerr. This tense encounter results in an invitation for dinner, which the Strands hesitantly accept.

The remaining part of the movie unfolds in the Fords’ dimly lit, shrouded mansion, a property inherited by Lillian from her deceased parents. In its concise 85-minute runtime, it delves deep into the characters, offering insights not only about their relationships but also as individuals. Emma feels drained by Albert’s relentless care and aggravated by his absence of emotional closeness. Albert, on the other hand, has allowed his insecurities to affect his marriage so significantly that he’s been concealing aspects from Lillian.

The Fords are still struggling deeply following the tragic drowning of their young daughter, Hazel, eight months ago. George has been focusing more on supporting his wife financially rather than addressing his own sorrow, while Lillian has found it much harder. She was there when Hazel passed away, and the guilt has left her emotionally shattered. Now she believes that her daughter’s spirit is still in their home, attempting to communicate with her.

After Emma and Albert decide to spend the night instead of braving the heavy storm, more unsettling facts surface and hidden tensions emerge. To make matters stranger, Lillian persuades everyone to join a mysterious seance, complete with spooky sounds, flashing lights, an unstable chandelier, and a floating table. Though convincingly staged, the seance feels unexpected. However, its significance becomes clear later on, despite some aspects of it remaining unexplained.

In my perspective as a movie reviewer, “Séance” masterfully revolves around its four complex central figures, skillfully crafted by Kerr to evoke both our compassion and disapproval. What truly sets this film apart is the lifelike portrayal of these characters, allowing us to grasp their feelings and motives – at least until the last 15 minutes or so. Under Kerr’s confident direction, these flawed individuals come alive amidst a thematically dense, aesthetically pleasing, and powerfully acted dark mystery/drama about relationships rather than external hauntings.

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2025-04-08 20:57