“The Observance” follows Madison Neubauer, who, after five years in a coma, wakes to find her home and family in the grip of a religious cult.

A Strong Setup

Quickly introducing the characters, “The Observance” establishes the town dynamics and individual stakes in under 10 minutes. Instantly, there is a sense of unease with the presence of a religious cult, though its true motives remain uncertain.

“The Observance” does all of this in snappy fashion before pulling the rug out from under you.

The effective introduction instantly adds tension, allowing the audience to ponder how the provided information may look different as time passes. After the title card appears, “The Observance” quickly begins to show the horrors that lie within this simple yet intriguing plot.

Rather than fully utilizing its visual format, “The Observance” often over-relies on exposition. Large portions of the 102-minute runtime are spent with characters conversing rather than showing.

This creates some pacing issues, especially in the first act.

Despite some sluggish moments, much of this dialogue works. “The Observance” emphasizes the impact that spending five years in a coma can have, both for the person and for those around them. It succeeds in generating anxiety and discomfort through these sequences before gradually building toward the true terrors.

Themes Beyond Horror

It’s also in these moments that the film lingers on the effects of cults. These groups don’t always scream “horror,” but they do create broken bonds and leave lasting trauma on victims. The movie occasionally steps away from the horror approach to focus on this, a choice that allows it to leave more of an impact than an average genre film.

Because of this, co-writer and director Rob Hollocks’ film becomes genre-bending. It never commits to one path for too long, constantly finding new ways to explore its themes.

This can cause “The Observance” to feel tonally inconsistent at times. It also makes it relentlessly entertaining and occasionally thought-provoking.

The film remains engaging through its visuals as well. Director of photography Denton Adkinson and production designer Hannah Garatie combine to bring life to each set, while varied lighting techniques further elevate the imagery.

Performances and Atmosphere

The performances are another strong suit of “The Observance.”

Kate Dailey (Madison) leads the way in a role that requires both emotional intelligence and inner rage. Dailey expresses both well, making the character feel whole as she navigates numerous complexities.

Alec James (Jonah) is also a standout. While there isn’t as much range in his performance, there doesn’t need to be. Playing a character who is the epitome of unhinged, James succeeds.

Ted Raimi (Richard Abernathy) also appears, alongside Patrick Harney (Gabriel), Darby Cappillino (Nia), Anna Borchert (Athaliah), Donald Morgan (Brent Chase) and more.

“The Observance” may not fully show the horrors of cults, but it has a lot to say about them. It’s a fresh twist on the genre with a unique premise and plenty of style.

Rating: 3 out of 5