Michael Ward on Sunday, October 11

AN UNQUIET GRAVEDirector: Terence Krey Written by: Christine Nyland, Terence Krey

AN UNQUIET GRAVE

Director: Terence Krey
Written by: Christine Nyland, Terence Krey

★★1/2

A small-budgeted two-hander, Terence Krey’s psychological horror/thriller An Unquiet Grave details the pain of loss and people’s inability to move on in their lives from the anguish it causes. Capturing a powerful concept Krey conceives in his screenplay, co-written with lead actor Christine Nyland, the film struggles at times to find cohesiveness and clarity.

Nyland stars as Ava, sister-in-law to Jamie (Jacob A. Ware). Jamie is grieving the loss of his wife Jules on the one-year anniversary of her death. And together, Ava has agreed to join Jamie to participate in a ritual designed to resurrect her from the grave.

Essentially, that’s the story. They drive out to a remote location where a grave marker is placed. Hugo Lopez’s score sets an ominous, unsettled atmosphere and Nyland and Ware deliver strong, believable performances. Krey is workmanlike in moving us through a story that keeps us engaged, but never really startles or upsets us along the way.

One particular scene near the end of the film will cause some to cover their eyes, however, and for a microbudget movie like this, the production values are quite impressive. However, as Jamie and Ava blur the lines of how they are, and likely will remain connected, An Unquiet Grave seems to not have a whole lot to say beyond the story’s premise and concept.

This is unfortunate as An Unquiet Grave has an engrossing idea, but never quite satisfies in a rather minimal payoff.

An Unquiet Grave is making its World Premiere at the Nightstream 2020 Film Festival.