Sarah Adina Smith's metaphysical slow burn debut is a chilling exploration of grief and loss. There are many films that explore the loss of a parent and the sibling wastelands left in the aftermath, however, Smith's foray into the shadows of bereavement is tinged with supernatural plausibilities, familial frivolity, and an interesting hopeful twist. Featuring a trio of strong performances, unusually strong camerawork for the genre, and an unexpected dose of discomfort, this is a remarkable first offering that is being given the gold treatment via Vinegar Syndrome's associate label Yellow Veil.
Three sisters, June,
Isa, and Annie return to their family home on Spirit Lake in the wake of their
mother's disappearance and assumed death. As the sisters grapple with
loss in very different manners, secrets and hardships from the circle of life are
brought to the fore, revealing unpleasant truths and possible new
beginnings. Smith's script uses found footage techniques as a means to
tell the story of how the three principals deal with the realization that their
mother is dead. The stages of grief are jumped in between and criss-crossed
in such an organic matter, the viewer is helpless but to watch as these three
talented actresses (Lindsay Burge, Aleksa Palladino, and Jennif Lafleur) embody
three souls struggling with past, present, and future.
Shaheen Seth's
gorgeous cinematography presents the familial home and surrounding environs as
haunted, but not evil places, the home and the lake are curiosities where the
veil between the living and the dead may be perilously thin. The result
is a quasi-mystery whose resolution will either excite or repel, as much is
left to personal interpretation. One of the more interesting aspects is
in how the final shot drives home much of what is discussed during the bulk of
the narrative, possibly cementing what really happens, or perhaps it is another
trick, a specter in Smith's carnival of emotions and suppositions.
There's also a dance/lipstick sequence that manages to combine all of the
core emotions, creepiness, hope, joy, sadness, and sisterly love into one powerful
reflection on death and the afterlife.
Now available on multiple streaming platforms and releasing tomorrow on Blu-ray
via Yellow Veil, The Midnight Swim is an unforgettable exploration of
regret and sadness. A powerful three-pronged performance blends with
masterful technicals (deftly guided by Smith) to create an almost ghost story
that will surely haunt the heart, as well as the mind's eye for days to come.
--Kyle Jonathan