Sundance Film Festival 2022 Premiere – All that I can say is that RESURRECTION is all manner of messed up. I can also say that it continues my growing admiration for actor Rebecca Hall who continues to choose brave material in the horror genre. Here, Hall plays Margaret, a single mother, and high-level executive on the verge of sending her daughter Abbie (Grace Kaufman) off to college when all hell breaks loose in the form of a monster from her past. Writer-director Andrew Semans helms his amorphous psychological horror pic with a sure hand. The end product is another tour de force performance by Hall and a layered exploration of trauma.

The film opens with Margaret is being a listening ear to Gwyn (Angela Wong Carbone), one of her interns at work. Confident, together, and at the top of her game we see Margaret’s life. She is advising those under her, she is a compassionate mother for her nearly 18-year-old daughter and Margaret even has a sordid love life with a married man. Things are dialed in. Then, at a work conference, she spots David (Tim Roth). Uncontrollably triggered Margaret becomes inconsistent at work and hyper-protective of her nearly-grown daughter. Who is David? How did he find Margaret? More importantly how in the world does he seem to have such a death grip of power over her?

Semans‘ script reveals layered revelations that play with our perceptions toward the end of act one until Margaret spills the beans to her intern Gwyn. The echoes of abuse and trauma rattle the iron-clad Margaret and she begins to wobble. As those around her become increasingly worried, disturbed even Margaret spirals, doing everything that she can to defend herself from David’s increasingly aggressive intrusions.

Jessica Kelly and Johanna Tacadena acted as casting directors on this film and, truly they must be credited for landing the perfect actors for key roles in this film. Weird to point this out, yes, but Semans’ script would struggle if not for the nefarious talents that Tim Roth brings to the role of David. His monotone madness is the stuff of trauma and recurring nightmares. Then there’s Hall’s performance as Margaret. Not to fan-boy here but in lesser hands, key moments would have landed as ludicrous. This is a visceral performance that provokes bordering on Collette territory.

The film twists and turns with our fierce female lead demanding resolution and I am not about to spoil even the slightest thing that would steal the pleasure of discovery from the audience. RESURRECTION is best savored in reflection of its themes, story, and rich performances. This is Psychological horror that effectively explores themes of abuse, recovery, and hatred. This is Horror that makes you work and we are here for it. Andrew Semans did well to bring Hall onto the project as she was one of the few that could sell this on a primal level without devolving into camp or melodrama. Mr. Semans, please, keep creating.

7 Out of 10