The Other Lamb

The scenery is strikingly beautiful, but the whole story is so bizarre and disturbing.

Beyond the synopsis there really isn't anything else to this movie. What you read is what you get, that's the entire plot, there's no real spoilers or even anything to spoil at all. This is a movie that is a good 80% exposition without dialogue or plot development, you're just watching them move around or stare off into space. It also bounces around a little bit at times just to keep you guessing if something is actually happening or imagined...but it doesn't really matter because nothing is ever actually explained because there's no narrative or plot.

It's not a good movie, the acting is hard to judge because you don't really know what they're aiming for, and honestly it just doesn't make much sense overall since nothing is explained. The cinematography is fantastic, the cast looks great, but there's no real acting or story to see here. I just felt it seemed very pointless by the end.

This is not your general mainstream movie. It uses lots of symbolism and short flashes of scenes that may or may not have really happened. When the movie is over you don't really know for sure.

As the movie begins we see a large group of females, some young some mature, all dressed in plain long sackcloth dresses. They live off the grid in a strangely stark area. We see the sole man, whom they call Shepherd, with his facial hair and demeanor reminds us of the Caucasian view of what Jesus may have looked like. And we see a flock of sheep, expertly guarded by a well-trained Border Collie. This is a cult.

What is immediately conspicuous is the absence of any males among the children. What we eventually glean, but isn't spoken, is that Shepherd sees to it any male child born is eliminated. A flock can have only one ram. But a cult can't go on forever, eventually a strong willed person will start a rebellion.

I enjoy all kinds of movies, even if I don't relish the theme. This is a well-made movie, the acting is appropriate and the cinematography is excellent, making creative use of the stark Irish landscape.

I am glad I took the time, but I suspect most who favor mainstream type movies will not enjoy this one.

Despite its spellbinding cinematography, thoughtful imagery, and captivating performances from Raffey Cassidy and Michiel Huisman, 'The Other Lamb' strays pretty far from being an engaging presentation due to the lacks of tension and stakes needed on its story to make this film as fascinating as it had the potential to be.

This is the story of a christianesqe cult of all women and their one master living out in the woods. For the life of me I don't see why this is touted as a horror movie, marketing gambit? It is these women's pleasure to serve their shepherd hand and foot...and booty. It's the very slow, long, drawn out story of one of his daughters finally opening her eyes to his real "ideology" and his real treatment of these women. Plus, it didn't hurt that his own arrogance finally got the better of him. As slow as this is, and as NOT a horror story as this is, I was somehow held by the story. I found myself drawn - maybe by the lush cinematography.