Haunting tale with stunning location, fraught family drama and a well written narrative

Screened at Black Sunday Film Festival.

Inspired by Guy de Maupassant's 1888 novel "Pierre et Jean", The Reckoning is a modern drama with a psychological and haunting edge.

Brian and Nick are estranged brothers who unexpectedly lose their father. The will stipulates they must travel to a chateau in France to scatter his ashes and we learn that on this request, one son will receive a large inheritance. This leads to the family's already tense relationship to fracture further, with suspicion and distrust building. Add into the mix haunting images of their late father and a newly unearthed dark family secret and you have The Reckoning.

Shot in just 18 days with a crew of the same number, this independent feature is a wonderfully directed piece of haunting cinema. It plays well on the unspoken tension often found between relatives, which are particularly frayed when placed under unexpected pressure.

Set on the grounds of the breathtaking Chateau Outrelaise, the filmmakers do well to capture a claustrophobic and tense atmosphere amidst the sprawling estate grounds. The cinematography is astounding, balancing that fine line between capturing the picturesque surroundings and educing fear from its audience.

You'd be mistaken coming into The Reckoning expecting another ghost story in a grand manor. Instead, this delivers a film that's equal parts family drama and mystery with two gory woodlands scenes that lurk in the back of your memory after the final credits roll.

The performances of both Michael Weaver as Brian and Quincy Dunn-Baker as Nick are incredibly strong, each with a believability that takes you into the story immediately. Kristen Griffith delivers a standout performance as Laura, the mother of Brian and Nick. She has a challenging role as a dementia sufferer and effortlessly portrays this with heartbreaking ease yet manages to deliver humour and sharp wit which provide unexpected moments of levity.

I thoroughly enjoyed this film and the depth of its narrative. Fans of well-developed characters, films that take time to invest in the story and unexpected, yet purposeful twists will highly enjoy The Reckoning.

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

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The horror genre features stories that aim to elicit fear, suspense, and a sense of dread in its audience. Horror stories often explore themes related to the unknown, the supernatural, and the macabre, and they frequently evoke strong emotional reactions such as anxiety, terror, and unease.

The thriller genre features suspense, tension, and excitement. These stories are known for keeping audiences on the edge of their seats and delivering intense emotional experiences by revolving around high-stakes situations, dangerous conflicts, and the constant anticipation of unexpected events.

After their father's death, long kept secrets and a peculiar link to France lead two estranged brothers and their disabled mother to an unimaginable outcome. Inspired by Guy de Maupassant's "Pierre and Jean" (1888).

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The Reckoning

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