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The Secret of Marrowbone
***
Dir: Sergio G. Sanchez
Starring: George MacKay, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Heaton
(Spain/USA, 15, 1hr 50 mins)
Slow burning Gothic chills pervade the English language directorial debut from Spaniard Sanchez who wrote the equally affecting horror The Orphanage. The Secret of Marrowbone follows four siblings aged between 5 and 20, played by Matthew Stagg, Charlie Heaton, Mia Goth and George MacKay, as they flee England with their mother to avoid their vengeful father in 1969.
Once they arrive in a new rural home in America, their mother dies, leaving the children to fend for themselves. Once the eldest Jack is 21 he can care legally for his siblings, so they keep up the pretense that their mother is alive in the local community. The film skips forward in time; months later, we find a ghost haunting the house, the mirrors are covered up and eldest sibling Jack has formed a relationship with a local librarian played by The Witch’s Anya Taylor Joy.
Jack is convinced that there is a malevolent spirit haunting the upper floor of their house. The film is all about the unfolding secrets of the house, as family’s haunting means they have to face up to traumas from the past. Sanchez manipulates events carefully and with considerate aplomb. This isn’t a jump-scare film, but it does provide real gloomy tension. The family work well as a unit, particularly MacKay and Heaton, both trying to be brave when they are dealing with things they are not ready for.
The awkward time leap does jar slightly but allows Sanchez the space to develop and crucially deepen the intrigue. Atmosphere is sustained, characters are solidified and stakes are raised. The cinematography is splendid, and although twists pile upon twists, the film mostly works thanks to the work of the central actors as well as Taylor-Joy. A slow-burn arthouse chiller with plenty to offer, The Secret of Marrowbone ultimately comes apart in a melodramatic ending but the creepy and intriguing journey there is gripping. Crucially for a film with marrowbone in its title it has nothing to do with dogfood.
words Keiron Self
Out now in cinemas.