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Having just lost her husband Josh (Sam Hazeldine) in a car accident,
psychologist Marianne (Thekla Reuten) decides to relocate from the US to
Scotland, to work at a prestigious clinic for children there. One patient
especially intrigues her, Manny (Elijah Wolf), who mostly just paints dark
pictures, and claims whatever he draws he will make happen. This of course
sounds like a child's over-imagination, until scenes from Manny's very
dark, sometimes borderline apocalyptic, drawings to come true. Now this is
especially troubling as some of the drawings concern Marianne and her new
boyfriend Kieran (Emun Elliott). Marianne manages to track down Josh's
former psychotherapist, Dr. McVittie (Peter Mullan), who has since been
institutionalised in an asylum himself and who has tried to burn himself.
Dr. McVittie only confirms what Marianne already fears, that Manny can
make things happen, almost God-like. Things go bad when Manny draws
Kieran's death, and a short time later he does die in a boating accident -
but what's worse, Marianne is implicated to have killed him. Ultimately
she takes Manny captive and wants to force him at gunpoint to make things
again like they were. Thing is, the police is already in hot pursuit ... Granted,
the plot of this movie does sound far-fetched - but it comes across as
totally relatable as it plays on some dark and primal fears, including
loss of control over one's own life, and tells its story in an engaging
way. Plus, the events that make up the after the seeming finale are sure
to catch everyone off-guard. And while a very solid cast keeps things grounded, the impressive
Scottish locations and landscapes do their part to give the whole thing
just the right atmosphere, while dynamic camerawork keeps things lively
while the film keeps things on slow-burn. And all of this makes for a
rather excellent genre piece.
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