Nathan (Nathan Wallace) and his sister, Mirra (Jenna Rose Sander), return to the family home after years away. Their father has died, said to have drowned himself after his body washed up on the beach. Nathan is intent on selling the place as quickly as possible and begins pouring through his father’s belongings for anything of importance or value. What he finds shocks him: Throughout his father’s personal writings are references to a coven of witches who seek revenge for the actions of the family’s ancestors.
At the same time, Mirra grows closer to the farmhands still laboring on the family’s land. Beautiful and mysterious, the women begin initiating Mirra into strange rituals, and their friendship becomes more amorous. This makes it impossible for Nathan to convince his sister that his father’s death was not an accident and that the farm hands may have played a role.
Many critical reviews exist for this movie, though I can’t understand why. Some amateur critics complain that ‘nothing happens’ in this movie because of the dreamlike quality of the entire film. Perhaps the meditative nature of the storyline and lack of VFX disappoints some viewers of modern folk horror as there are no giant creatures made of corpses or naked women drinking blood. I, however, was struck by the immaculate cinematography throughout the film. It heavily utilized techniques as old as the medium of film, such as the Schüfftan process, to create dreamy nightmare sequences and eerie moments of utter stillness.
The Ones You Didn’t Burn is very much a slow-burn film which may put some viewers off, but those seeking fantastic horror elements with flawless, old-school film work will want to see this movie. If your patrons enjoy witch horror movies and classic filmmaking, they will enjoy The Ones You Didn’t Burn. Highly Recommended.
Where does this title belong in public library collections?
The Ones You Didn’t Burn is modern horror, but it may fit better among classic horror to avoid patron disappointment.
What type of film series could use this title?
Pitch The Ones You Didn’t Burn as a Halloween alternative for those looking for a mild horror experience. Its horror elements are excellent, but it doesn’t utilize gore and jumpscares like many other modern horror films.