Kindred
Ratings: 4.2/5
Duration: 1hr 41 mins
Language: English
Genre: Horror, Psychological Thriller
Director: Joe Marcantonio
Writer: Joe Marcantonio, Jason McColgan
Based On:
Producer: Morgan Bushe, James Cotton, Tom Harberd, Phil Hunt, Jack Lowden, Norman Merry, Dominic Norris, Compton Ross, Elliot Ross, Fenella Ross, Gareth Wiley
Music: Jack Halama, Natalie Holt
Cinematography: Carlos Catalán
Editing: Fiona DeSouza
Art Direction: Alice Murphy
Release Date: 6 November 2020
Released In: Theatres
Star Cast: Chloe Pirrie, Fiona Shaw, Jack Lowden, Anton Lesser, Edward Holcroft, Kiran Sonia Sawar, Tamara Lawrance, Natalia Kostrzewa, Toyah Frantzen, Nyree Yergainharsian
Plot: Plagued by mysterious hallucinations, a pregnant woman suspects that the family of her deceased boyfriend has intentions for her unborn child.
Review: In first-time feature director Joe Marcantonio's psychological thriller Kindred, fear lives in the mind of the mother-to-be, grinded with dark thoughts, grief and confusion. Or is she being harassed by her deceased boyfriend's family as they plot to claim her child as their own?
The film visits the element of white supremacy, slavery by making the protagonist a Black woman who is being manipulated.
Charlotte and her boyfriend Ben (Edward Holcroft) are planning to move to Australia for a fresh start, away from his overbearing, twice-widowed mother Margaret (Fiona Shaw), who lives in the family's crumbling Scottish manor with Thomas (Jack Lowden), her devoted stepson from her second marriage. Margaret is against this moving plan, reminding Ben of his duty towards a family.
The situation gets further complicated when, on their next visit to the mansion, Ben dies in a tragic accident. Margaret and Thomas offer to let Charlotte stay with them so that they can help take care of her and the baby in this difficult time. They continue to isolate her by locking the front gates and making her a prisoner in the house. The cinematography captures this very well: the idea of suffocation; as Charlotte begins to experience blackouts and surrealistic dreams.
Marcantonio and co-writer Jason McColgan has added certain hints of the supernatural in the constant appearance of crows, both in the waking hours and the disturbed dreams of Charlotte (Tamara Lawrance). The film's original title was Corvidae, referring to the passerine bird family that often figures in literature as dark omens of misfortune or death. That element contributes some disturbing occult themes.
While Kindred may not appeal to all horror fans because it is not your traditional jump scare film. The tone captures the subtle nuances of the deepening horror, as well as the strong cast brings it to life. The film leaves the audience with an unsettling feeling that is very creepy yet satisfying from the perspective of quality entertainment.
