Family grief can be a weight hanging over each member of the household manifesting in differing degrees. Thus is the cloud hovering over the Minister and his family living in The Rectory in a small U.K. community. 10-year-old Leah (Kiera Thompson) knows nothing of the family past or the real reason why her mom Sarah ( Denise Gough) is always sad and spends so much time in bed or why her much older sister Bex (Hannah Rex) is always angry and takes particular pleasure in torturing her. Her dad Thomas (Steven Cree) is going to Confirm her at the outset of the film but Leah failed to wash her hair as requested by her mother to the latter's disappointment. Leah is spiritual and does believe in angles and when one crawls through her window to spark up nightly conversations with the lonely girl the meat of the story begins to unfold.
Director Ruth Platt uses all of the elements of country life centred on the community church to her benefit for the story. Everyone knows each other. The details of the tragic event are commonly known to all except Ruth and the audience that sees events through the 10-year-olds eyes. Leah's guardian angel who appears to be about the same age plays the game two truths one lie to gain and give information about herself to Leah in their nightly talks. She has an uncanny knowledge of where to find items on the rectory grounds that Leah sets out to find during the day. Her dad meanwhile has his hands full caring for her seemingly unstable mother and seeing to the needs of the parish especially one member who does not seem to know the definition of boundaries.
Platt slowly unravels the story behind the family grief through the nighttime chats, clues given to Leah from her guardian angel items she finds under direction from her new friend ,and one particularly chilling scene where Ruth is present at a house call made by her mother on her Dad's behalf. The director also dwells on the hustle and bustle Germain to the household leaving Leah and Dex relatively on their own to fend for themselves.
Hebrews 13:2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unaware is the guiding light of the Rectory and Leah's code as well. The riveting exchanges between Leah and her otherworldly counterpart ae the glue of the film. It's also Leah's openness to spirituality that allows her newfound friend to take hold in the home and push an alternate agenda that is not in the best interest of our protagonist. Platt's steady hand guides events as the play out with increasing urgency and intensity minus the expected tropes of a religious based horror tale.
*** 1/2 Out of 4.
Martyrs Lane | Ruth Platt | U.K. | 2021 | 96 Minutes.
Tags: Minister, Rectory, Confirmation, Bracelet, Angles, Loss, Mourning, Depression, Birthday Cake.
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