Filled with atmosphere and cult style creepiness is the latest entry from filmmaker Elise Finnerty THE ONES YOU DIDN'T BURN. This gothic supernatural thriller follows two siblings that head back to their farmland after the death of their father. While they are both dealing with grief the handlers of the estate try and form a suspicious bond with the two that starts unlocking secrets. THE ONES YOU DIDN'T BURN is an all too familiar story about a hidden past that comes with dire consequences.
This film is a mystery from start to finish. What starts as a deep brother and sister story dealing with death soon twists into an unnerving earth religion selection. Nathan Wallace as "Nathan" and Jenna Sander as "Mirra" move the story along decently. The feeling of a town forgotten is very apparent within them both but that doesn't mean they aren't easily drawn away from each other. Old habits are hard to run from and nothing is worse then the competition of sibling rivalry. THE ONES YOU DIDN'T BURN delivers more once we meet not only old friends but the sisters who are taking care of the farmland. While there is a so much of the film that's predictable there is still a history lesson that beckons the viewer to pay attention to. This country is filled with lands that have been stolen or taken away without any consequence and that allows THE ONES YOU DIDN'T BURN to become a cult styled film on revenge.
I wanted to enjoy THE ONES YOU DIDN'T BURN more and was overall pleased with the nightmarish scenarios. Still the point of the film was made pretty early so it just turned into a feature showcasing demise. Clearly there was more at hand with the mysteries of the land and those who inhabited before. Just a little more scare and sinister moments would have served this film well but direction , landscape and acting was solid enough to make this a strong watch.
2.5/ 5
THE ONES YOU DIDN'T BURN
is directed by Elise Finnerty and stars Nathan Wallace, Jenna Sander, Elise Finnerty and Estelle Parks. It is playing at this years Chattanooga Film Festival 2022.
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