I kept seeing comparisons to The Witch, and I can see why, but Gwen is far from a perfect film. Both movies do have a sense of dread that hangs from start to finish, and Gwen can pass as a decent companion piece, but the finale is far from rewarding and made me, and I’m sure many others, feel as if they wasted a quiet evening in.
Don’t get me wrong, the film is beautiful, but, if I wanted to sit in silence for two hours and stare at something pretty I’d just turn on the Planet Earth. I’m kidding. Seriously though, the cinematography by Adam Etherington is astounding. But, because of how boring the film is, it kind of has to be.
A young girl tries desperately to hold her home together. Struggling with her mother's mysterious illness, her father's absence and a ruthless mining company encroaching on their land. A growing darkness begins to take grip of her home, and the suspicious local community turns on Gwen and her family.
While this sounds like it could be a good time, or at the very least an entertaining one, I assure you, it is not. Perhaps I just don’t like these types of films. Maybe I’m just not a fan of this slow burn, atmospheric horror. Yeah, that could be true. I hated Crimson Peak, but I loved The Witch. I enjoyed Babadook, but I was bored with Gwen.
I’m not sure what that says about me, but Gwen was being touted on the festival circuit as one of the horror hits of the year, and because of which, my expectations were slightly elevated. However, based on my findings, it seems as if this year will go down in the books as another slightly mediocre one.
In the end, Gwen is a fine film to watch if you’re going to sleep. The Blu-Ray was pretty enough, and while this isn’t the best thing RLJE has sent my way, they tend to have decent stuff around the corner. They can’t all be winners, I suppose. Unless it’s the Astros, then they always win!
Jessie Hobson