I thought this was going to be a remake of the 1980 movie of the same name, but then I learned it was an adaptation of a Stephen King short story about a family being haunted by a supernatural entity. As usual, the King story framework manages to lay the foundation for a creepy tale executed with precision.

Sadie Harper, played by Sophie Thatcher (Yellowjackets, Book of Boba Fett), is still grieving the recent death of her mother when she must solve the mystery of what is hiding in the shadows to save her family. Luckily, she’s not a terrible detective.

There isn’t much to complain about. I especially liked the acting that brought the strong characters to life, the cinematography that took a less is more approach, and the slow tension building. More than anything, though, were the subtext elements that gave way to metaphors about dealing with grief and letting go. That stuff makes it much more interesting and memorable, and keeps the viewer invested in a human story about characters trying to overcome an impossible situation.

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