[CFF 22 Review] The Ones You Didn’t Burn: An Act of Beautiful Revenge
Content Warning: Addiction
A brilliant title, it takes from the viral quote, “We are the granddaughters of the witches you couldn’t burn.” As a lover of folk horror and witch movies, I was instantly intrigued when I saw it among the feature lineup for the Chattanooga Film Festival.
The Ones You Didn’t Burn is Elise Finnertys' directorial debut. Finnerty, also the writer, tells us a haunted story about an act of beautiful revenge while exploring the themes of generational trauma, grief, and sexuality. It boasts breathtaking cutaways of Long Island’s east coast, with a keen eye for rural imagery that enhances the watchers' experience.
The film opens with a quote by Henry David Thoreau: “I believe that men are generally still a little afraid of the dark, though the witches are all hung.” It follows up with an introduction to our protagonist, Nathan (Nathan Wallace) with his head bobbing in and out of the dark waters. The dark aesthetic helps the continuity of the tone, and we can instantly feel the heaviness and sense of panic as he tries to keep his head above water.
The first act was a bit of a slow burn, but for a good reason. We learn that Nathan is a recovering addict travelling back home after his father’s death. We are introduced to his sister Mirra (Jenna Sander) and can instantly feel the awkward tension between the two. When reaching their father's farm, they meet Alice (Elise Finnerty), who introduces herself as their father's farmhand, along with her sister Scarlett (Estelle Girard Parks). We start to understand Nathan and where he comes from when introduced to Greg (Samuel Dunning.) Greg is a friend from the siblings’ past who is incredibly obnoxious and seems stuck in the past. If you grew up in a rural area, chances are you know someone like Greg: he is a familiar character, and Dunning delivers in this role. His character, though appalling, plays an integral part in moving the plot forward. As the story builds, we watch Nathan struggle through his recurring nightmares and sobriety. Both Wallace and Sander deliver incredible performances through the high tension.
With witchcraft being a central underlying theme, it was nice to experience a film that did not portray witches in the typical Hollywood light. It explores spirituality through femininity, tarot, nature and hallucinogens. At first glance, Mirra's story seems less significant, but her experience resembles Danis's own in Midsommar (2019). Mirra forms a friendship with the sisters on the farm, and they help her break free from her addictions (work, money, etc.) We see Mirra exploring her sexuality while taking back more control of her life. While Nathans's story mirrors his father's experience, Mirra’s shines as she fights to break the generational cycle.
Overall, The Ones You Didn’t Burn was a thought-provoking and enjoyable film. Much like any Robert Eggers film, it leaves much of the interpretation up to you. I was even more impressed to hear that there were only nine crew members including the actors and that it was shot within nine days. With its clever foreshadowing, the eerie score, and the use of lighting, this film will be one you never forget.
The Ones You Didn’t Burn premiered at the Chattanooga Film Festival on June 23rd, 2022.
