Kindred – Movie Review (4/5)

KINDRED is a new psychological thriller from IFC Midnight. Actually, it’s a very sinister horror mystery that works on most levels. It does run a bit too long for my liking. However, the actors are absolutely brilliant and deliver nuanced portrayals of fascinating characters. Read our full Kindred review here!

KINDRED is a new horror movie from the UK. It’s a bit of a genre hybrid as horror, mystery, and drama come together in various ways. It does basically have a very simple story but it works due to being character-driven. Also, the actors in this movie are simply amazing.

With a runtime of 101 minutes, it’s around ten minutes longer than what would have been best. This is not an actual problem, mind you, but a tighter story would have improved the overall experience for me.

Continue reading our Kindred movie review below.

A small but amazing cast

Most of the story in Kindred plays out in one house (or mansion, really) which means the core cast consists of just three people; Tamara Lawrance plays Charlotte, Fiona Shaw is Margaret, and finally, Jack Lowden is Thomas.

Let me just say right away that all three are absolutely brilliant. Whenever one of them left the screen, I felt myself willing them to come back into the frame. And yes, this obviously also speaks to the amazing chemistry between all three. Though, of course, the chemistry between the various characters was of a very different nature.

If you enjoy Jack Lowden’s performance in this movie, then I’d really recommend checking out Calibre (2018). He is a very talented actor. Tamara Lawrance was a new face to me, but I am really looking forward to seeing her again since she was truly brilliant as the main character. Both actors also starred in the BBC series The Long Song which I need to check out now!

Admittedly, I do have a weak spot for Fiona Shaw, so I’m always happy to see her in anything. In Kindred, she really gets to act out some intense and awesome scenes. I actually found myself moving back into my seat at one point because she’s so powerful and real in her delivery of the more intense moments.

Many probably recognize Fiona Shaw from the Killing Eve series these days. To others, she’s still “Aunt Petunia” from the Harry Potter franchise movies or “Marnie Stonebrook” from the True Blood series. Whatever you know Fiona Shaw from, her performance in Kindred is just yet another example of why I, personally, adore this actor!

The ending of Kindred horror mystery

When the Kindred ending comes, you might feel a bit irritated or confused. Not because it isn’t good (it is actually) but rather because it’s fairly open-ended in some ways. I know many people are not fans of this. The horror movie The Open House on Netflix is a perfect example of this.

The ending of Kindred is a very different struggle. You will have many facts but probably remain unsure of what to believe. Not everything you’ve been presented with can be true.

In fact, from very early on, you will wonder what’s real and what’s not. Or rather, you’ll question the reality you are shown. Something is clearly going on and we’re not seeing the full picture. This is hinted at in many ways and you will be aware of it while watching the story unfold.

In other words, we’re not dealing with the irritation “red herring”-move where the filmmaker tries to trick the audience. Instead, we’re along for the ride but seeing things from one character’s perspective while knowing she also struggles with mental issues. I both enjoyed this part of the story and ultimately felt like I was left wanting more.

Watch Kindred in select theaters and on-demand

Kindred was directed and co-written by Joe Marcantonio. This is his first feature film and it’s a damn fine debut! He has done several short films and documentary shorts, so he clearly knows how to tell a story. The script for Kindred was co-written by Jason McColgan who is also a fairly new screenwriter with just two short films prior to this feature film.

Overall, I was very entertained and felt that the story was engaging and kept pulling me into a strange world. Basically, I am looking forward to the next movies by both Joe Marcantonio and Jason McColgan, so hopefully, we won’t have to wait too long for that.

If you’re a fan of psychological horror and enjoy a good mystery, then you should definitely check out Kindred.

Kindred is out in US theaters & On Demand on November 6, 2020.

Details

Director: Joe Marcantonio
Writers: Joe Marcantonio, Jason McColgan
Stars: Fiona Shaw, Tamara Lawrance, Jack Lowden, Edward Holcroft, Chloe Pirrie, Anton Lesser, Kiran Sonia Sawar, Michael Nardone