SEANCE (2021)

 

Written & Directed By: Simon Barrett Cinematography: Karim Hussein Editor: James Vandewater

Cast: Suki Waterhouse, Ella-Rae Smith, Madisen Beaty, Stephanie Sy, Inanna Sarkis, Djouloet Amara, Jade Michael, Seamus Patterson, Marina Stephenson

At the prestigious Fairfield Academy, an elite boarding school for girls, six friends jokingly engage in a late-night ritual, calling forth the spirit of a dead former student who reportedly haunts their halls. Before morning, one of the girls is dead, leaving the others wondering what they may have awakened.

This is an old-school type of horror film that builds towards the payoff rather than offering cheap thrills all upfront. 

It offers a little of every type even though at heart it is one really.

While the film is predictable it does try to offer a few surprises and keep you on your toes. As it stays entertaining even while it takes its time. 

The film is perfect for its target audience of teenage girls. As it is not over the top violent. Seems more focused on moods and scares than violence. Letting the audience know and see the dangers. Dwelling on it but not going overboard. 

The cast mostly looks like regulars on the CW teen shows. More attractive than normal. So that it feels like a very special episode of one of Their original shows and the characters are way more snarky than also. 

This film feels more like a genre exercise that feels refreshing if not also familiar. While feeling also indebted to the 1980s with only a few modern touches. 

One can admire it for what it tries to be for the audience and can be for those or familiar with it’s type. An excellent starter horror film. 

It’s better than one might expect it would be. 

GRADE: C+