Moving to the small, fundamentalist sect community of St. Belvedere is understandably not something 14-year-old Emerson (Summer H. Howell) is thrilled about. Living in an isolated house on the edge of a forest with her hot-tempered father Julian (Greg Bryk) and her pregnant, overly passive mother Anna (Michelle Monteith), who always submits to her husband's moods, seems to promise more conflict than harmony. The supposed supernatural perceptions that sometimes drive Emerson to grab the steering wheel of a moving car are hardly necessary to stir the tension. However, things get truly terrifying afterward, in two significant ways: first, on a familial level, when her father Julian abandons his teenage daughter on a remote road, despite her insistence that she doesn’t know the way to their new home. And then in the forest, where Emerson encounters a strange creature—half tree, half human. Which part of this ordeal is scarier is left up to personal interpretation.
Emerson’s first day at school doesn’t go well either, and she quickly becomes the expected target of bullying. However, she soon bonds with Delilah (Sarah-Maxine Racicot), another girl portrayed as an outsider. When Delilah shows her a hidden cave deep in the forest, Emerson begins to weave a personal mythology around dark spirits and mysterious forces that supposedly lie dormant within all people, forces that can be summoned through an occult-like ritual. A narrative unfolds, blending elements from a beloved comic book and perhaps a real connection Emerson feels to the supernatural. Did the recently missing student truly fall victim to a cougar? Or is there another, far more sinister danger lurking in the woods, threatening the young women of the community?
"Spirit In The Blood" is not without its flaws. The film takes some time to gain momentum, especially in the beginning, where it feels a bit too much like a familiar variation on the typical cult horror film. The usual tropes are present, including patriarchal structures within a fundamentalist religious community, which feel a little too on the nose. However, what sets "Spirit In The Blood" apart is that it doesn’t simply retell the same old stories as if they were fresh. Instead, it touches on these familiar themes but uses them as a backdrop to craft a more unconventional and unpredictable narrative.
As the film progresses, it becomes clear that director and writer Carly May Borgstrom is doing more than merely recycling established genre conventions. She uses recognizable elements from the horror genre—isolated communities, oppressive religious figures, and supernatural hints—but rather than letting the film fall into predictable patterns, she reshapes these motifs in a distinctly personal way. Borgstrom doesn't allow her film to fully conform to any one genre or expectation, which makes it intriguing to watch.
The narrative moves away from the expected and begins to develop into something more complex. Themes of isolation, teenage rebellion, and supernatural intrigue are explored not just through the lens of horror but as metaphors for deeper emotional struggles. The film introduces an eerie, atmospheric tension, enhanced by the growing relationship between the protagonist Emerson, and her newfound friend Delilah. Their journey together takes on a more mythic quality, as Emerson's personal mythology about dark spirits and hidden forces blurs the line between reality and fantasy.
In this way, "Spirit In The Blood" becomes less about delivering shock and more about crafting a psychological landscape that feels unique. The acting in the film is good which adds up to the overall thrill of the movie. Overall it’s a good watch for the weekend.
Final Score- [7/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Choudhuri
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times