In an icy, shadow-stricken Queenstown, the unexpected suicide of Elizabeth has left her wife Jill (Vicky Krieps) a hollowed-out shell – that is, until the mysterious arrival of Elizabeth’s long-absent son, Jack (Dacre Montgomery).
He stays the night at Jill and Elizabeth’s oppressive, concrete-clad mountain abode, and it quickly becomes clear that the spirit of Elizabeth has not yet departed. Instead, she has gained the ability to possess both wife and son, utilising this ability to linger. What initially seems to be a gift from beyond, however, begins to sour when long-hidden secrets of the past begin to emerge, and lines between the two begin to be crossed.
Samuel Van Grinsven sophomore effort is a wintry, gothic affair, a showcase for the untapped talents of Stranger Things’ Montgomery. Essentially a two-hander (with welcome interjection from Sarah Peirse as Jack’s frosty, mystery-shrouded aunt), Van Grinsven tracks the trajectory of these two adrift people and the spirit between them — from unexpected refuge, to joy, to dread – with a purposeful, drip-fed escalation of tension.
“A ghost story… shaped in a fresh and artful way by a director who, in his second film, already has the control of a master.” — Caryn James, Hollywood Reporter
Local tip
He tīwhiri mō te rohe
Make a night of it in the Aotea Arts Quarter. Aotea Square, Auckland Town Hall, Q Theatre and plenty of nearby dining options are all within a short walk of The Civic.
Getting there
Te huarahi ki reira
The Civic is on the corner of Queen and Wellesley Streets in the city centre. Te Waihorotiu Station is right nearby, making the train an easy option, while frequent bus services stop along Queen and Wellesley Streets. If driving, The Civic Car Park beneath Aotea Square is the closest parking option. For more transport information, check out our Getting Around page.
More info
He pārongo atu anō
