The Secret of Sinchanee

This has a riveting story with true scares. Two factions of witches are feuding through the ages. One side is happy to use deadly force. A 30 year-old murder of a boy's mother and daughter has tainted the family home it took place in rendering it unsalable, and haunted. This is a movie with marvelous acting, directing and also the mood and look of the thing. Much is communicated without words.

I saw this film on the silver screen at the Raindance Film Festival last year in the UK and was chuffed to find it online to rent this holiday season (it has proper Christmas themes so it works great for those holiday thrills). This film had won several awards before it arrived at Raindance on the festival circuit, so there was a lot of anticipation for it to come to the Genesis Theater in London. Attending the Q&A after the screening also provided a lot of insight into filmmaker Steven Grayhm's challenging, yet rewarding process of bringing this film to the screen. To be fair, this special little (big) film is nothing short of ambitious. Scary at times and thoughtful at others - but at its very best - this film is original! As most have stated, the third act tends to tie up nicely - giving the audience a satisfying ending - and an unexpected horror fan shoutout in the form of a CODA at the end credits. The cinematography is gorgeous, with many unique camera angles and shots. The musical score is beautiful, and at one point at the UK screening, it made some of us in the audience incredibly emotional. A second watch at home and it was just as intense. The score at times sounds like something from the late, great Jóhann Jóhannsson. This is simply a brilliant little independent film that I would recommend to most anyone looking for something unique and different.

I really liked this. It reminded me of the VVitch and Wretched. I love horror movies that keep the evil entities in the background, where you just catch a glimpse of something standing in a corner or among the trees.

It went a bit over the top at the end, but it was all relevant to the story.

Excellent direction, beautiful and chilling scenery.

Be patient with this film. The opening set-up is worth the final pay-off. Above average film outing with lots of plot twists and beautiful scenery. Would recommend it.

I thought that the filmmaker did a really good job handling all of the difficult themes and tropes of childhood trauma and the stereotypes that have affected indigenous people. A friend in my community told me about this film, and I am really glad I saw it and proud to see us being represented in this way.