Review: ‘The Curse of Audrey Earnshaw’
There have been many films about witch hunts and witchcraft. From the many adaptations of Arthur Miller’s ‘The Crucible’ to Robert Eggers’ ‘The Witch’ to this year’s Neil Marshall epic ‘The Reckoning’, many filmmakers have tried their best to explore the dynamics of unjust persecution and the mechanisms of the paranoia that led to many a lives falsely ruined. But none have done it quite like Thomas Robert Lee has done with his sophomore film, ‘The Curse of Audrey Earnshaw’.
Although ‘The Curse of Audrey Earnshaw’ is set in a small town in the 1970s, you’d be forgiven for thinking it takes place a century earlier. The people of this town, all Irish Christian settlers, have refused to integrate with the outside world, living their life as their great grandparents did, not interested in adapting to technology or new forms of civilization. Their peaceful tranquility is threatened by a mysterious force that seems to prey on their crops, causing their fields to remain infertile and threatening their livelihood in the process. The entire town seems to be affected by this inexplicable event. Except, that is, for Agatha Earnshaw (Catherine Walker).
While the rest of the town resides in a cold, miserable bubble, aimlessly living from day to day and regularly convening at the local church, praying for their circumstances to improve, Agatha Earnshaw has had far greater luck; her crops are thriving, her fields overflowing with produce and greenery. The residents of the town have started to take notice; at a funeral for his son, the grieving Colm (Jared Abrahamson) confronts Agatha, who is passing by with a cart full of fresh produce at her side. Despite the abundance of wealth growing in her fields, Agatha refuses to share with her neighbors for reasons never fully explained – but they have finally had enough and Colm angrily berates Agatha for hoarding it all to herself, even going so far as to accuse her of being the source of the town’s misfortune.
Unbeknownst to Colm, Agatha’s daughter Audrey (Jessica Reynolds), who Agatha has been hiding away from the villagers since her birth 17 years ago, witnessed the entire incident from a secret hiding spot in Agatha’s cart and – unlike her mother – she isn’t willing to let sleeping dogs lie. Audrey, who we soon learn has much more to her than first meets the eye, seeks retaliation for the townsfolk’s constant disrespect and mistreatment of her mother, and she will go to great lengths in order to attain it.
‘The Curse of Audrey Earnshhaw’ presents an interesting scenario that we haven’t seen much of before: what if the women accused of witchcraft, who were used as scapegoats for people’s misfortune, actually were witches? What if they fought back against their aggressors, refusing to back down or become victims to misdirected fear and anger?
The result is an enthralling piece of tense, atmosphere filmmaking that is as bleak and depressing as it is visually beautiful. ‘The Curse of Audrey Earnshaw’ charts the dark depths people will sink to in order to absolve themselves of their own personal guilt – and what happens when that aggression is directed at someone who is more than capable of standing up for themselves. Juxtaposed with gorgeously presented scenes of the remote village the townsfolk have barricaded themselves in, courtesy of cinematographer Nick Thomas, the film’s tragic tale of greed, misfortune and accountability feels especially familiar in today’s COVID-19 ridden climate.
As the titular character, Jessica Reynolds is absolutely sublime, establishing herself as a powerful force of nature not to be underestimated or messed with. In a role that starts off similar to Anya Taylor-Joy’s star-making turn in ‘The Witch’ before it soon reveals itself to be something far more sinister, Reynolds proves she has the range required to tackle such a complex character, making her both empathetic and intimidating to the characters in the film and to viewers alike. Jared Abrahamson’s performance as the terrified, grief-stricken and angry Colm is also worth noting. Abrahamson manages to chart his character’s journey from grieving father to unwilling accomplice in a nuanced, authentic manner; every word he says is more than believable, every action more than convincing.
The film stumbles a bit in its third act; the little crumbs Lee goes to great lengths in order carefully place don’t connect as intended and the film’s odd setting never serves a purpose throughout its runtime. It also ends on a bit of a confusing note, leaving the audiences with more questions than answers. But an intriguing script, gorgeous cinematography and impeccable performances make ‘The Curse of Audrey Earnshaw’ more than worth a watch and ensure its standing as one of the best horror films of the year.
Rating: 3.5/5
The Curse of Audrey Earnshaw is now playing in theaters and will be released on VOD on October 6.