This dark tale starts with shots of beautiful countryside contrasted with haunting music that’s laced with echoing screams, indicative of what’s to come. Something awful has happened in What Josiah Saw, and director Vincent Grashaw does a great job of setting the eerie tone before the Graham family reunites at their farmhouse after two decades.

Ghosts walk among the Graham property as the sins of their past hang around, and this is emphasised by striking visuals, such as the muted colours within the Graham home which are broken up by the sight of the stunning sky outside. The sky is the one constant despite the disturbing events taking place below it, as if to show how far the family is from Heaven. The use of the colour orange in many different scenes, specifically through fire that is seen burning throughout, clearly evokes Hell and the idea that this is where the family already resides. All of these small details make the whole even more impressive, as well as disturbing.

This is a very talented cast, with a standout performance from Nick Stahl as Eli. The three men in the Graham family made up of Stahl, Robert Patrick, and Scott Haze all masterfully build up this story, and when Kelli Garner’s character is looped in during the final portion of the film, it rounds everything out and adds another layer that shows just how far their family’s past has seeped into the world outside their home.

What Josiah Saw is a chilling story that is told with a slow burn; it’s patient, taking the time to build up each character and let the actors shine. This allows the creeping sensation that’s created through the score and the cinematography to truly bury underneath your skin before coming to a shocking conclusion.

RATING: 4/5

INFORMATION

CAST: Robert Patrick, Nick Stahl, Scott Haze, Kelli Garner, Tony Hale

DIRECTOR: Vincent Grashaw

WRITER: Robert Alan Dilts

SYNOPSIS: A family with buried secrets reunite at a farmhouse after two decades to pay for their past sins.

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