Set in the fictional small town of Maybrook, Pennsylvania, we join the story a couple of months after the mysterious disappearance of an entire class of Elementary School children. At 2:17am, they all just got out of bed and ran out of their houses into the night. In many cases, their exit captured on doorbell cams. Just one student arrived at teacher, Justine Gandy (Julia Garner)'s class the following morning and up to this point, the local police are still completely stumped!
The first chapter is titled 'Julia' and begins a couple of months later when she reluctantly takes the podium at a consolation meeting for the faculty and parents in the school hall, hosted by Principal Marcus Miller (Benedict Wong). Halfway through her unconvincing, empathetic speech, a man in the audience pipes up "Why isn't she being questioned?" He stands up. "She must know something about our kids?" The frustrated man is Father, Archer Graff (Josh Brolin), and his outburst begins a cacophony of further accusations from those gathered. Miller swiftly intervenes and the meeting ends abruptly with Gandy being ushered outside by security to her car between a handful of clamouring parents.
A troubled individual, Gandy heads directly to the local liquor store to get a couple of bottles of vodka to drown her sorrows at home. Later that night, while deep into her umpteenth glass, the doorbell rings. She looks between the blinds and sees no-one. Returning to her solace, then someone hammers on the front door. "Who is it?" She cries. "What do you want? She goes outside. Still nobody but then she sees the word "WITCH" scrawled in thick red paint on the side of her coupe.
We are then shown the same few days after that school meeting from a number of distinct chapters - seen from the points of view of some of the major players. 'Archer', 'Miller' and a few others - including moustached local cop, Paul Morgan (Alden Ehrenreich), who seems to be an old flame of Justine's and now seems to be her only confidant. As these chapters unfold, the tension in the town ramps up until we finally see Alex's story. The only child not to have gone missing from Gandy's class that day.
There's lots to keep one's attention here. From the curious premise, the spooky town that seems virtually empty most of the time, the atmospheric camera work - and the intense performances showing every character to be flawed in one way or another. A good choice of cast, especially a totally unrecognisable Amy Madigan as Gladys Lilly, Alex's quirky Aunt, who dramatically arrives in the second half of the 2 hour 8 minute runtime. Without giving away any kind of spoilers, I must reiterate that this film definitely deserves its given 18 certificate as when the truth is revealed as to where the children have gone, it kicks the visuals and intensity into overdrive!
I do think this is a well crafted thriller and no doubt many studios will be knocking on the door of Mr Cregger to deliver further content of this genre to the big screen. Horror is normally not my sort of cinema-going fare, however I did find this quirky story engaging and quite watchable. Even if it was from behind my fingers at times!
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