Review: 'Gwen' is an Unsettling and Tense Tonal Thriller

The international film Gwen, premiered on Shudder and Shudder Canada today. The film stars Maxine Peake, Eleanor Worthington-Cox, Richard Harrington, and was directed by William McGregor.

We follow Gwen (Worthington-Cox), a young girl, as she struggles with her mother’s mysterious illness. As the illness takes hold of her mother, she faces struggles and hardships. She must find the strength to manage a farm, her father’s absence and a town that has turned on them.

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From the start of this film the tone is set, Gwen lives during a hard time in a cold place. Even as she and her sister play along a mountain side it is evident that this is a rough life. With the help of unnerving imagery and character’s emotional plight this film paints a dark and tense setting.

The small family struggles to manage their farm, while awaiting her father’s return. Their neighbors have just been taken by a suspected outbreak of cholera. After Gwen’s mother, Elen (Peake), refuses to sell their home to a local quarry owning lord, things begin to go awry for the family.

They awaken one morning to discover someone has been on their land. Not long after, Elen comes down with a mysterious illness that produces seizures. This leaves Gwen to bare the weight of running a farm, household, looking after her sister and tending to her mother. She becomes plagued by nightmares and her mother’s illness worsens. This coming of age tale is set at a time when life is hard and uncertain. So uncertain, she isn’t sure if it’s people she needs to fear or something darker. As we see, Gwen’s growth comes in moments of great pain.

Not only does she discover that her mother is hiding things from her. But also that there are many forces working against her family. Things are bleak, so bleak in fact you’ll be rooting for them to have some semblance of a happy ending. But that is not the reality of their cold mountainside farm.

The imagery and tone are not the only things that draw you into this film. Eleanor Worthington-Cox gives a fantastic performance of a girl forced to grow due to horrendous circumstances. Maxine Peake is somehow able to portray a character who is both warm and terrifying. You’ll spend most of the film wondering if she is effected by illness or madness. Although by the end of the film, one thing is certain. Gwen has grown, and she is ready for the responsibly bestowed upon her thanks to all the hardship.

Overall Gwen entices you in with its atmospheric tone but it also gives a story worthy of your attention. This film is a slow burn, but has an ending that will keep you thinking even after the credits roll. Gwen is now available to stream on Shudder. Check out the trailer below.