Resurrection – Movie Review (5/5)

RESURRECTION is a new psychological thriller starring Rebecca Hall in an awe-inspiring performance. It’s slow-burn but extremely intense. The movie is coming out in theaters and on VOD – later on, Shudder. Read our full Resurrection movie review here!

RESURRECTION is a new psychological thriller that originally had its world premiere at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. Ever since then, we’ve been waiting for the chance to see it, and now it finally happened. Both for us here at Heaven of Horror and for larger audiences with a theatrical and On-Demand release.

Later, this movie will also be released on Shudder in October 2022. However, if you want to avoid spoilers and experience this movie sooner rather than later, then I would recommend you check it out now. You can also watch it again on Shudder – and you’ll want to, if Rebecca Hall works as well for you, in this, as she did for me!

Continue reading our Resurrection movie review below. It premieres in theaters on August 5, 2022.

Psychological warfare

In Resurrection, we ultimately experience brainwashing in a very simple and direct way. Margaret (Rebecca Hall) leads a successful life and is clearly a balanced and loved person. With both a busy career and being a single parent to her fiercely independent daughter, Abbie, she seems in control.

However, that all changes when someone from her past shows up. David Moore (Tim Roth) was a part of Margaret’s life more than two decades earlier, but just seeing him leads to an immediate panic attack.

I don’t want to spoil any part of the story of you – as a rule, we always try to avoid spoilers. Still, I will say that David (Tim Roth) is like the personification of OCD. Someone who can create havoc out of simple situations and try to convince Margaret that there is danger all around her.

It is fascinating and terrifying. All because Tim Roth is very good at what he does, but mostly because Rebecca Hall is a straight-up force of nature.

A masterclass from Rebecca Hall

The movie – which I have no problem calling an understated masterpiece – stars Rebecca Hall in the all-important lead. As such, she delivers an awe-inspiring performance that has stuck with me ever since. It’s slow-burn but extremely intense.

I’ve been rather fond of Rebecca Hall for quite some time. She delivers one stellar performance after the next and there’s always something new to discover. From Professor Marston and the Wonder Women (2017) to The Night House (2020). Also, she’s in the Prime Video sci-fi anthology Tales from the Loop.

However, to me, she managed to reach new levels with her performance in Resurrection. There’s a scene where the camera just stays on her for the longest time, while she tells the story of her past. I was completely enthralled and could’ve watched her talk for the rest of the film.

She is indeed the kind of actor who is a perfect storyteller. This movie is a masterclass in acting from Rebecca Hall. Nothing less!

Do not miss out on Resurrection

Resurrection is the second feature film from writer/director Andrew Seman. It’s also his first production in ten years, since his debut feature film Nancy, Please from 2012. Having just watched Resurrection, I really hope we won’t be waiting another ten years for his next film.

However, if a decade is what it takes to come up with this kind of movie, then it is absolutely worth the wait. Also, can I just put a little wish out into the Universe and state that I hope he and Rebecca Hall will work together again? I’m not sure that many (if any) other actors could’ve worked as well as she did!

This movie was produced by Lars Knudsen of Square Peg, Alex Scharfman & Drew Houpt from Secret Engine, and Tory Lenosky of Rosetory. If one name among the producers should stand out to you, it should be Lars Knudsen.

Okay, the name also stands out quite naturally for me since it’s a very Danish name, and I am Danish. Still, Lars Knudsen is also a name you’ve seen during credits for movies such as Hereditary, Midsommar, and The VVitch. 

In other words, horror movies that have already become iconic in their own right. Also, all those movies are character-driven and may be slow-burn but also extremely intense. The same could easily be said for Resurrection which obviously makes it a movie we highly recommend.

Resurrection is out In Theaters and On Demand from August 5, 2022. On October 28 it will also be added to Shudder.

Details

WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY: Andrew Semans
STARRING: Rebecca Hall, Tim Roth, Grace Kaufman, Michael Esper