The Descendant

I honestly did not know what to expect when I watched The Descendant; I'd seen the trailer many times, but nobody told me exactly what it was about. I'm glad I didn't know because the film kept me guessing until the end!

I must say I was fairly intrigued by the premise, especially knowing that the film revealed a 'hidden' part of Quebec's history. (I won't spoil it for you!) I was shocked by this revelation and it added a whole other dimension to my way of thinking about the past. The story demonstrates a thorough research of the topic and is backed by a solid art direction that gives it all its credibility. I must also add, from the point of view of someone who often visited family members in remote villages, that the attention to details in the props and set design is simply splendid. Through his writing and his directing, Philippe Spurrell managed to effectively convey the intricate feelings an outsider encounters in such towns.

Now on to the movie; this is a slow paced piece, but it never feels long. I wouldn't call it a horror film – which seems to be one of the reasons some viewers have a negative opinion of the film – so don't build your expectations that way. It does however have a few genuinely creepy moments that are very effective by taking many of the characteristics of rural Quebec and making them uncanny.

At first the story seemed predictable, but about 30 minutes in, it went in the opposite direction of what I was expecting. All the theories I had from the start were disproved and I did not guess where it was heading. I simply enjoyed the ride and let the ending surprise me.

It is a solid first film that clearly demonstrates the director's mastery of storytelling; every scene and detail adds a layer to the mystery and is there for a reason. The acting sometimes feels a bit stiff or off, but doesn't detract from the compelling whole. This is a character piece that offers a fresh new take on a classic story/sub-genre that has been drained to death. It is sure to surprise Quebecers, but can as easily be enjoyed by anyone. I strongly recommend it and I'll be looking forward to Philippe Spurrell's next project.

These sorts of indie films are either hit or miss, especially when little is known about the film from a lack of costly pre-hype publicity. So, for me, this taut little drama was a brilliant surprise. The film doesn't rely on clichés and in fact seems to steer clear of them. The pacing drew me in alongside James, the main protagonist (played convincingly by talented newcomer Tadhg McMahon). We are only as aware as he is of the unfolding truth and we react as he does with curiosity, surprise and ultimately, horror. I was riveted from start to finish accompanied by a well-crafted soundtrack along the way. Can't wait to see what this director has in store for us next!

Having seen a wide selection of lower budget films in my movie watching career, rarely have I seen one so well filmed and acted. The intriguing plot, kept me guessing right until the final scene. The quality of the filming and almost timelessness of the sets, created, in parts, an ethereal quality which made the supernatural element of the film all the more haunting. The characters,especially Mr. Duke (who made me feel very uneasy throughout the film),successfully convinced me of a stifled secret, which when revealed was genuinely shocking. More shocking though is the fact that the story is based on a little known part of Canada's past that would surprise viewers both Canadian and otherwise.

This film has great intentions but fails in areas too major to ignore: acting and script. When I saw it at a film festival, the audience repeatedly laughed at the corny lines ("I can't believe I just witnessed that.") and overwrought, one-dimensional acting. The director apparently told his cast to look menacing, and oh, did they look menacing. The actress who played James' girlfriend was so awful that I felt embarrassed for her. Some of the "horror" elements were amateurish and silly, again eliciting uncomfortable giggles. The cinematography is beautiful but often not in sync with the theme (such as a character gliding through golden cornfields). Too bad, because the basic story is fascinating.

Having been addicted to films for some 30 years I am just as happy watching something made for £1M or £100M , but I don't expect them to be the same. I only expect them to be interesting The concept and realisation of the Descendant along with the strange and ,to me, previously unknown subject matter made the film compelling. The tension that develops between the fey protagonist (James) from the modern world and the serious reserved characters James discovers in his family's past is very well played in large part and I had a growing feeling of discomfort as the film progressed. Horror films that develop discomfort from the milieu (The Wicker Man)rather than with bloodied bodies and slick CGI ( Nightwatch )seem to stick longer in the memory and this is one of the former.