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When a teenage girl inherits a dark power, she must decide whether to use it to protect herself and her sister from their destructive Mother.

Milly Alcock and Helen Stuart in The Familiars (2020)

Ahistorical imported American themes in a story that doesn't cohere

The USA had a direct connection with Puritanism and witch hunts / trials, Australia doesn&#39;t. And yet, this is the basis of this supposedly Australian film. Ok, maybe the original witch lynching that forms the historical basis of this tale happened in the UK and eventually her female descendants moved to Australia, but that&#39;s a bit of a stretch. To the meat of the film, which is the inter-relationships between the grandmother (now deceased), the mother and the two daughters, they are not convincing. Supposedly the mother has &#39;not been there&#39; for the daughters, who were then mostly cared for by the grandmother. But they live in the same house as the mother, so why do the mother - daughter relationships feel so shallow and unconvincing ? And what was the mother trying to do with her spell, cast over the dead grandmother&#39;s body ? That is not made clear, although we are given clues by the inclusions of photos of the daughters and some of their hair that they were to be somehow &#39;sacrificed&#39; to complete the spell. Why was the mother willing to sacrifice her own daughters ? What power did she hope to gain ? Back to the original witch, whose locks of hair seem to contain such power. If this witch had such power, why was she ever caught by mere mortals ? Too many questions left unanswered. Too many confused elements that, again, seem imported from American witchy story-telling. The film really didn&#39;t feel authentically Australian. Finally to the actors. I would like if Milly Alcock could close her mouth more; she presents as a mouth-breather. Her acting was ok, she&#39;s clearly chosen for her ability to &#39;emote&#39; on demand (sorrow over her grandmother; fear in the face of her turned to evil mother). But she doesn&#39;t strike me as a stellar actress. The other main actors (mother and younger daughter) didn&#39;t have a lot to work with, so I won&#39;t comment on their performances. This short film might satisfy some early teens who are after a horror thrill, and it does deliver somewhat in the horror aspect. But ultimately, it&#39;s a disappointment, and doesn&#39;t feel authentic.

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The Familiars

It&#39;s fantastic. The best short on the Shudder collection of shorts. PLEASE promise to make this a feature. Do it. So good. So great acting the Director the writing. I love it all.

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User reviews

The Familiars

Ahistorical imported American themes in a story that doesn't cohere

How is it that nobody reviewed this

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