Spider & Jessie

I went into "What We Hide" expecting another typical indie drama, but Dan Kay completely blew me away. McKenna Grace and Jojo Regina deliver powerhouse performances as sisters who hide their mother's body after a fatal overdose, and their chemistry feels so authentic it hurts.

What really got me was how Kay handles the tension. Instead of cheap thrills, he builds this slow-burn dread that had me on edge throughout. The cinematography captures this raw, gritty atmosphere that makes you feel trapped alongside Spider and Jessie. Plus, Jesse Williams as the local sheriff asking questions and Dacre Montgomery as their mom's drug dealer both bring serious menace to their roles.

The script doesn't judge these kids for their impossible choice. It just shows how desperation can push people to extremes when the system fails them. Grace especially shines - she's come so far since her earlier work.

Is it a remake? Nope, this is all Kay's vision, and it shows. The guy knows how to craft a story that sticks with you.

And yes, definitely worth your time, if you want something that'll mess with your head in the best way. Just prepare for some heavy emotional moments - this one hits different.

As someone who has suffered from someone's drug addiction and grief this hit close to home. This story was told so raw and was portrayed as beautifully as it could have been. Mckenna is absolutes incredible at her craft she truly is gifted. Although I will say the story fell flat a few times throughout the film. If it were not for the amazing cast that just blew the film out of the water im not sure that it would have transmitted the same emotion. The ending especially. Although for an indie film this is incredible & thankful for these types of stories to still be told and pushed into the light.. these are many children's real life unfortunately. :(

I've seen this film three times now and the third was an even more intense experience than the first two. McKenna Grace and Jojo Regina gave such realistic performances as the sisters who are suffering because of their mother's overdose (& their terrified of the drug dealer's pure evil performance). The film quality and character chemistry was so good! And the scenes filmed in Plant City, Brandon, and Pinellas County, Florida seemed perfectly placed. Kudos to the whole cast and to Hungry Bull Productions for another great film.

Some movies grab your attention with action or big twists, but What We Hide works in a completely different way. It's a quiet, emotional story that slowly gets under your skin and stays with you long after it's over.

The film follows two sisters, Spider and Jessie, who are suddenly left on their own after their mother dies. Instead of telling anyone, they decide to hide her death, terrified that the foster system will split them apart. It's a heartbreaking setup, but the film never feels cheap or over-the-top. Instead, it's about survival, loyalty, and the fierce bond between two kids who only have each other.

The reason this story hits so hard is because of the performances. McKenna Grace is outstanding as Spider. She plays the older sister with a mix of toughness and deep vulnerability, showing the pain of a child forced to act like an adult. Jojo Regina, as Jessie, is just as powerful in a softer way. She brings innocence, hope, and sweetness that make you root for her instantly. Together, they're magnetic-you believe every look, every argument, and every small moment of love between them.

The rest of the cast adds texture without taking away from the sisters. Jesse Williams plays a sheriff who sees more than he lets on, Forrest Goodluck adds some warmth as a rare friend, and Dacre Montgomery is genuinely intimidating as a local threat. They all help create the small-town world that the sisters are struggling to survive in.

Visually, the movie keeps things simple. The muted colors and quiet settings match the story's tone. It doesn't try to be flashy, and that works-it feels grounded and real, almost like you're peeking into someone's life.

What really makes What We Hide special is that, despite its heavy subject, it's ultimately about love. It's about two sisters holding on to each other, no matter how bad things get. Yes, it's emotional and at times tough to watch, but it's also moving and deeply human.

What We Hide is a small, powerful film that proves sometimes the quietest stories can leave the loudest impact.

Greetings again from the darkness. Put me down as one of those saps who struggles mightily watching kids in peril ... even if 'it's only a movie.' Writer-director Dan Kay taps right into my weakness in the opening scene. Two sisters find their mother on the floor of the rural house - dead from an overdose. It's a situation where initially we have hope. Perhaps the girls will be better off without a druggie mom. But life is rarely that simple.

Mckenna Grace (GIFTED, 2017) is remarkable as 15-year-old Spider. She's so determined to keep together what remains of her family that she looks forcefully in the eyes of her younger sister Jessie (a terrific Jojo Regina, WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING, 2022) and says, "I'll die before I let them break us up." And neither Jessie nor us viewers have any doubt she means it. Yet, the challenges of that promise mount quickly ... and start with what to do with mom's body while keeping her death a secret.

Other challenges include mom's frightening druggie boyfriend, Reece (Dacre Montgomery, WENT UP THE HILL, 2025), who threatens the girls in order to extort money from them. There is also a social worker (Tamara Austin), and a well-meaning local Sheriff (Jesse Williams, "Grey's Anatomy), who happens to be the father of Spider's best friend Alexis (Malia Baker, "The Baby-Sitters Club"). All of this is piled up on the girls attending school and not arousing suspicion ... an incredibly stressful task for two youngsters. The emotional strain forces them to deal with a situation way beyond their years.

The interaction between the two sisters is mesmerizing to watch. Both actors are tremendous and create characters that find us believing everything they say and do. Spider has (mostly) pent up anger, while Jessie chooses to remember her mom's goodness. The dynamics shift a bit when local boy Cody (Forest Goodluck, THE MISEDUCATION OF CAMERON POST, 2018), takes an interest in Spider, using photography as an icebreaker. This acts as a reminder that Spider is a young girl who should be enjoying friends and figuring out relationships, rather than protecting her sister from outsiders.

Filmmaker Kay delivers an ending that fits so well with a story that has put the characters and viewers through immense emotional strain. This is one of the indie gems that has a lot going for it, not the least of which is these two outstanding young actors.

A limited theatrical rollout continues August 22, 2025 and August 29, 2025 in select cities.