Movie Review: We Have Always Lived in the Castle (2018)

We Have Always Lived in the Castle (2018) directed by Stacie Passon, based on the novel by Shirley Jackson

Two sisters live in a hilltop estate, isolated from and fearing the local village. Constance Blackwood (Alexandra Daddario), the older sister, was tried but acquitted of the murders of her parents and several relatives by poisoning. The village still blames her, though they hated her dad because he was a skinflint and very standoffish. Her younger sister Mary Kate (Taissa Farmiga) is the one who runs errands in town. Her other activity is casting spells of protection to keep them safe from the hate broiling below. One uncle (Crispin Glover) lives with them as a wheel-chair bound kook who is trying to write a book about the murder. Their tense, quirky life is disrupted when their cousin Charles (Sebastian Stan) shows up. He wants to help, though it becomes clear fairly quickly that he wants to help himself to their wealth. His interactions with the family and the locals force a lot of buried tension to the surface.

The low-key tension of the story builds for the characters as everyone is brought into conflict. Even though the actors give good performances, I didn't find any of the characters particularly likable and I guessed the ending's twist very early on. The movie depicts how damaging the fear of others is for individuals and social groups in effective ways. The possibility of reconciliation is left aside by the very pessimistic ending. While I admire the production qualities and acting, I did not enjoy the movie.

Not recommended.