Josiah Graham has a habit of having visions, which he likely didn’t see for real. However, despite his apparent craziness, the things he sees do have real-world connections. Unfortunately, not all of his visions are as jolly as a little green man doing a jaunty jig for his viewing pleasure.
In Southern Gothic tale of family trauma, abuse, and (apparent) supernatural goings-on, he sees things that disturb him more than visions of his dead wife. One is a warning about the sins of their past. ..
These Sins is a disturbing chiller that will make you think about your own personal sins. Director Vincent Grashaw takes his time revealing the truth about the Graham family and the terrible acts that caused Josiah’s wife Miriam to hang herself from a tree.
The movie is split into three chapters and while they might seem unconnected, the events of each are eventually weaved into the central plot. It’s worth paying attention to the dreams and prophecies that each character receives during these chapters (even the vision about the leprechaun) as they are all relevant to the journeys of each of the protagonists as they make their way to the violent and tragic conclusion.
In the second chapter, we learn more about the abuse that Josiah may have suffered as a child and how it may have led to his current state. We also meet Josiah’s wife, Alma (Natalie Portman), and her son Isaac (Oscar Isaac). Alma is a strong woman who has faced many challenges in her life, but she is also very protective of her son. She is determined to get justice for her husband and son.
Josiah suddenly turns religious after seeing his dead wife burning in hellfire. She tells him to correct the mistakes of the past as this is the only way the family will receive salvation. Failure to do so will see them all burning in hell so Josiah wastes no time before instructing Tommy on what he needs to do to save his soul.
Eli is a criminal mastermind who has a past that includes stealing from the local gangster. To make up for his past, he is instructed to steal gold from some visiting gypsies. In the process, he discovers that there are other ‘sins’ of his that need to be accounted for. These include breaking and entering, which he had done as a child, and even murder. Eli must reckon with these dark secrets in order to achieve his goals.
We follow the family as they travel back to their childhood home, where they meet up with Tommy and his family. However, things take a dark and violent turn when the family’s sins are revealed.
The director manages to create a sense of dread throughout the movie. He is slow to reveal the shocking events that are at the core of the Graham family’s sinful past, but when he does, they hit us like a sledgehammer. They are extremely disturbing in nature, so it’s only right that we should warn you that what you see and hear may be triggering to you if you have experienced childhood traumas of your own.
This is a harrowing, uncomfortable story that will make you think about your own stomach and whether or not you can handle more gruesome scenes. The acting from all of the main players is exceptional, especially from Scott Haze who deserves to be far more famous than he actually is. You may remember him from James Franco’s Child Of God where he played a dispossessed man trying to exist outside of the social order. He was as brilliant as the lonesome soul in that movie as he is as the tortured individual in this one and it’s time that he was given more parts that enable him to showcase his superior acting talents.
The cast and crew of “The Book Thief” deserve credit for their hard work in making this film a well-done product. The cinematographer, Carlos Ritter, also deserves credit for his excellent work in capturing the dark and oppressive tone of the story. This is a quality production in every aspect, although the movie’s subject matter and long-running time can sometimes make it difficult to sit through.
The story is well-told and the acting is excellent, keeping us engaged despite some unlikable characters. ..
This is a horror movie, but it’s not in the traditional sense. The ghosts that are featured here are real, and there are no jump scares to speak of. However, the movie is still quite terrifying because certain scenes are beyond the realms of reality. And because of the horrible nature of this family’s sinful past, there is enough here to make you squirm in your seat (and forget your popcorn).
This movie is definitely worth watching, although it may take some patience to figure out the answers. The revelations about the plot will be slow to come and even once they do, you might still have questions. ..
Josiah Saw is still rewarding, even if you’re somebody who likes to unravel a movie’s lingering mysteries on your own or with others. If you can prepare yourself for something that will work your brain rather than patronise it, you will get a lot from this unpleasant but mesmerising tale.
Josiah saw the end of the world in a vision. In his vision, he saw a great and terrible battle between good and evil. The evil was overwhelming, and Josiah could only watch in horror as the good was defeated. The end of the world seemed inevitable, and he was left terrified.
