I thankfully went into this movie knowing very little and expecting nothing; I didn't even watch the trailer so as to have as few preconceptions as possible. I'm so very glad that I did just that.
Within the first ten minutes of the film, we are treated to an unexpected and emotionally assaulting introduction. The acting is painfully good and heartfelt. As a first-time parent myself, I was able to wholly empathize with the protagonists.
There's a constant, unnerving, underlying sense of unease that that is cleverly amplified via a distinctive score, heavy color saturation, and unfocused shots. Whilst nothing supernatural seems to be at play, we are set in a permanent state of apprehension; always waiting for the jump scare that never comes.
The Unseen is far more a psychological horror than a supernatural one. It is more a story of the mental decay of a seemingly perfect family after a tragic loss rather than your traditional haunting. It is the story of the personal demons that claw into the mind and slowly untie the knots of sanity that keep us functioning as society expects. It's a depressing tale of how perfect life can be today and how all of that could be gone tomorrow.
The complicated, sometimes disturbing relationship that develops between our three protagonists (Richard Flood as Will, Jasmine Hyde as Gemma, and Simon Cotton as Paul) is quite intriguing and frightfully foreboding. As allegiances change sides and rifts within the characters' mental fortitude widen into chasms, we slowly start to surmise that something unsettlingly sinister is the only sane conclusion to this ill-fated couples' litany of lamentations.
The title of the film is a mildly clever play on the unseen or invisible nature of ghosts and spirits, as well as Gemma's constant loss of vision throughout the film. Her inability to see whilst having her panics attacks further adds to the perception that whatever paranormal activity she believes is taking place is more than likely naught but a figment of her imagination.
Whilst primarily a melancholic drama throughout the first two acts, the third really confirms all of our previous suspicions and quickly turns devilishly dark and daunting. Saying anything more beyond that dives deep into spoiler territory so I'm just going to stop for now and say that the film absolutely deserves your attention. Catch the trailer below and as always, thanks for reading.
