Director Oz Perkins
Genre Horror | Thriller
Cast Kiernan Shipka, Lucy Boynton, Emma Roberts, James Remar
Rating R
Release Date March 31st, 2017 (Streaming on Netflix)
“Two girls must battle a mysterious evil force when they get left behind at their boarding school over winter break.”
The Blackcoat's Daughter is a horror thriller from actor-turned-director Oz Perkins, who also penned the script. This film is his directorial debut. First releasing in 2015, it was originally titled February, which will quickly make sense once you start watching. It took nearly 17 months for film distributor A24 to get a U.S. release after playing at a variety of film festivals. According to IMDb, star Emma Roberts had trouble sleeping after first reading the script, yet she toughened up and still took on the role. That's impressive. The full cast includes Kiernan Shipka, Lucy Boynton, Emma Roberts, and James Remar.
A calculated and visceral horror experience, The Blackcoat's Daughter is a slow moving, yet effective debut for director Oz Perkins. Indie horror films are always a gamble, but I generally tend to give anything A24 is willing to attach itself to a fair shake, as they deliver more often than not. This is yet another notch in their belt. The Blackcoat's Daughter is the epitome of slow burn horror, which tends to be very love it or hate it for most viewers. The usual jump scares found in many horror films nowadays are completely nonexistent, which is entirely fine by me. A horror film such as this is built on atmosphere, acting, and a chilling score, which all come together to create a very unnerving experience that pays off in the end. The tension and general feeling of unease is palpable.
I also really enjoyed the old school horror elements that were used, reminiscent of Psycho or Bates Motel, which makes sense considering director Oz Perkins role as young Norman Bates in Psycho II (1983). Off topic, but fun fact nonetheless, many will recognize Perkins as the highly intelligent, yet very odd character Dorky David Kidney in Legally Blonde. Perkins also adapts the less is more approach similar to what was used with hit indie horror The Witch, also from A24. He allows the slow opening shots and overall visuals the opportunity to have an impact on the audience, and I liked that aspect. It might be easy to dismiss The Blackcoat's Daughter early on because everything seems to move at a snail's pace, but give it a chance and it will not disappoint. Does that mean this is a horror film that should satisfy everyone who decides to give it a shot? Absolutely not, many people will bash it for the variety of reasons I mentioned. Some may call it an acquired taste, but I feel that the artsy feel and old school horror elements will undoubtedly satisfy true horror fans, while inevitably letting down those seeking jump scares and other elements found in most of horror films today.
The acting is absolutely fantastic from top to bottom, with the entire cast helping to cement the inescapable feeling of dread the film creates. Young actress Kiernan Shipka is horrifying in one of the lead roles, coming across as not only creepy but definitely unpredictable, or better yet downright unhinged. Her character’s transformation during the film is an experience in itself. Emma Roberts is no stranger to horror, and I am a big fan of her work. She channels much of the vibe given off by Shipka and really adds to the overall effect of keeping viewers on edge. Lucy Boynton rounds out the cast as far as the primary roles are concerned, and she is stellar as well. Her character is instrumental as far as the believability and overall execution of the film, and she delivers in a big way. I also liked the casting of James Remar in a small but important role. If you watched Dexter you will remember him as Dexter's adopted father. This is a very well put together cast that didn't exhibit any weaknesses as far as I could tell, supporting roles included.
The Blackcoat's Daughter is a satisfying horror film for a variety of reasons, but casual viewers should proceed with caution to ensure this is in fact a film they will enjoy. Perkins definitely has an eye for old school style horror and I'm looking forward to what he comes up with in the future. The Blackcoat's Daughter is a limited release and only available On-Demand currently in most markets, but it is absolutely worth the cost and an hour and a half of your time.
