Psychological horror knocks at the door Fantasy Festival‘s door in the Canadian horror film “Ancestral Beasts” from writer/director Tim Riedel. His first narrative feature had its world premiere at the Montreal festival and explores mental health, a menacing entity, and everything in between.
Elyse (Morgan Holmstrom; TV series “Day of the Dead” as well as the series “Sky Med”) sees her world collapsing around her. She has remained in a vulnerable state since the death of her mother four years ago. She’s now struggling with her job, having to go on leave, and her witch sister, Nikki (TV series “Little Bird”; “Aberdeen” (2024)), only adds to all the pressure she feels weighing on her. To escape her reality, Elyse goes to her aunt’s vacant house, in the woods, far from all noise. There she meets an annoying and nosy neighbor. Worse yet, she fears raccoons are living under her house and have dug a hole in her floor. The only thing is that what lurks in the dark shadows below is far more serious than a few creatures.
Riedel showcases impeccable cinematography in what is his first-ever non-documentary feature film. Interesting camera angles, appealing aesthetics, and crisp lighting make every shot worth watching. “Ancestral Beasts” creates a tale steeped in indigenous culture, including reminders of “land acknowledgement,” blending the pains of the past with the challenges of the present, and topping it all off with a violent dose of psychological horror. The scares scattered throughout the film are, for the most part, sudden and effective, without resorting to typically boring, exaggerated, out-of-context sound added to the scene.
Being of mixed race himself, Riedel surrounded himself with a predominantly mixed team, including the cast, and even the composer. Each actor performs a remarkable job in their respective roles. Morgan Holmstrom delivers a brilliant performance as the tormented title character, but she is well supported throughout its 104-minute runtime. Each actor nails the incarnation of each of their respective characters, from the overly nosy neighbor to the constantly nagging and scolding sister. Even the music, concocted by Justin Delorme, an award-winning Métis film composer from Red River, adds its own imposing stamp to the film’s ambiance. From the very first scene of the film, overflowing with blood, its menacing music resonates in your soul in a suffocating way. However, sometimes throughout the film the sound can even be a little too loud, negatively affecting the overall experience of a scene.
The main flaw of “Ancestral Beasts” is the second half of the film. Although the actors are on point and keep the audience engaged in the complex relationships between them, the nefarious entity that haunts Elyse’s aunt’s house takes an almost comical turn, letting go of all suspense and apprehension about it. Most of the interest in the specter and its next move fades in the latter part of the animated feature, removing most of the horror aspect of the tale.
Although it fails to quench horror audiences’ keenest thirsts, Tim Riedel’s debut as a writer and director in the world of narrative feature film is worth watching for its understanding of indigenous culture and the modern challenges his community faces, its themes of dysfunctional families, mental health, as well as how different members of society deal with these situations.
The horrific drama »Ancestral Beasts» receives a score of 3.25 eyes out of 5.
If themes of family dysfunction in horror appeal to you, be sure to check out our “Evil Dead Burns” review.
