Reckoning

This was an unexpected pleasure. A film with a cast of no name actors who carry out their roles in award winning fashion.

This seemingly quiet Appalachian landscape is hardly the place one would think to find an African American woman alone with a child who knows and has abided by the code of the hills...until she is deceived and used as a vessel to start a war.

Danielle Deadwyler, who had a hand in production, turns in a winning performance as our reluctant hero waiting for her man to come home.

The direction , editing and script by Lane and Ruckus Skye along with the photography of Sherman Johnson give this backwoods tale a look that you can't turn away from.

Each character no doubt had back-stories that could have been looked into a bit more. But the sparsely worded script did the job.

Add this to your must-see list. I'd watch it again!

The story unfolds well, keeping you interested all the way through.

The main character, Lemon, is perfect; a seemingly vulnerable woman at the start turning into a strong lioness protecting her cub.

There is not a lot of dialogue, but you understand exactly the history and context that has brought Lemon into her current perilous situation as well as how it all plays out.

The backwoods people and their ancient ways brings the latent horror and violence that exists in films such as Deliverance. The ex-city dwellers frankly weird cult, brings a different type of horror shown best in films such as The Wicker Man.

Sounds odd, but it all ties in very well, making this a very compelling story.

Very satisfying to see the payback, and from someone you'd least expect. And an Interesting look at the backwoods, wow, Deliverance on steroids, I sure hope it's nothing like that in real life.

I saw the film at the Atlanta film festival and I was blown away. Right off the bat. the cinematography was drew me in, with a generous sampling of panoramic views of the north Georgia mountains scattered throughout the movie. But what really made the movie memorable was the acting and the story. Danielle Deadwyler gives a brilliant performance as a woman struggling to survive and to protect her young son from untrustworthy neighbors in their isolated Appalachian village. The pacing of the film is excellent, allowing the tension to build until the story reaches an unexpected climax.

The filmmakers should be proud. They've crafted a gem.

I watched the mini trailer for this on Netflix and it intrigued me enough to want to watch it straight away. The intense scene between Danielle Deadwyler and Catherine Dyer in the kitchen was nerve racking. Both fantastic actresses within their own right, you could have cut the air with a knife, the intensity was electrifying.

I was completely drawn in by Lemon (Deadwyler) my heart ached for her and her son, every step of the way and I wanted things to work out for them both.

I don't want to go too much into the plot.

Yes it is a slow burning film, but I was never bored once whilst watching it. It really is so mesmerizing and all the acting is good and the scenery is breath taking.

I would highly recommend this film to anyone.