Review: ‘Anguish’ delivers a spooky, sensitive tale of possession without the horror antics
Ryan Simpkins as Tesss in “Anguish.”
A ghostly possession masks itself as mental illness in the eerie and atmospheric “Anguish,” written and directed by Sonny Mallhi. Rather than stooping to horror-genre antics, Mallhi weaves a tale that is spooky but sensitive and focused on interpersonal relationships between mothers and daughters.
Young, troubled Tess (Ryan Simpkins) and her mother, Jessica (Annika Marks), move to a new town, hoping for some peace and a fresh start for Tess, who has long struggled with depression and anxiety. Her father is a soldier deployed to other parts of the world.
Join the conversation on Facebook >>
There’s a moment where it seems like it will go down a route toward exorcism, but the religious element is more spiritual than ritualistic. The film ends up a lovely rumination on the bond between mother and daughter that transcends death and dimension.
Simpkins gives a captivating, subtle performance as the tortured Tess. Mallhi employs a creaking, rattling, roaring score and sound design to effectively create the dread and tension with distinctive, creative lo-fi imagery to visualize the spectral presence.
------------
‘Anguish’
No MPAA rating
Running time: 1 hour, 31 minutes
Playing: Arena Cinema, Hollywood
Inside the business of entertainment
The Wide Shot brings you news, analysis and insights on everything from streaming wars to production — and what it all means for the future.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.