Minnesota, 1990. Detective Bruce Kenner investigates the case of young Angela, who accuses her father, John Gray, of an unspeakable crime. When John unexpectedly and without recollection admits guilt, renowned psychologist Dr. Raines is brought in to help him relive his memories and what they discover unmasks a horrifying nationwide mystery.
Direction
Amenábar builds dread through restraint, not jump scares
Acting
Hawke's unraveling desperation carries the whole film
Production
Perfectly grimy 1990 Midwest aesthetic
Director
Alejandro Amenábar
Ethan Hawke
Bruce Kenner
Emma Watson
Angela Gray
David Thewlis
Professor Kenneth Raines
Lothaire Bluteau
Reverend Beaumont
Dale Dickey
Rose Gray
David Dencik
John Gray
Devon Bostick
Roy Gray
Aaron Ashmore
George Nesbitt
Peter MacNeill
Police Chief Cleveland
Adam Butcher
Brody
Jacob Neayem
Charlie Klemme
Aaron Abrams
Farrell
Catherine Disher
Kate
Danielle Bourgon
Secretary at Police Station
Julian Richings
Tom
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Based on the real 1980s-90s Satanic Ritual Abuse moral panic, where 'recovered memory therapy' destroyed countless families before being debunked.
Amenábar called this his 'American film' after The Others, but audiences rejected its bleak ambiguity — it flopped because it refuses easy answers about truth and justice.
US
