Watch Cardinals

Cardinals is a stunningly haunting drama film directed by Greyson Moore and Aidan Shipley. The film focuses on a woman named Valerie (Sheila McCarthy), who has just been released from prison after serving time for killing her neighbour in a drunk driving accident. Upon her release, she returns to a small town in rural Canada where her grown-up children, Mark (Noah Reid) and Alison (Katie Boland), reside in their family home. Despite Valerie's attempts to make amends and reconnect with her family, she finds that her past misdeeds continue to haunt her in unexpected ways.

Right off the bat, the cinematography in Cardinals is nothing short of stunning. From the opening scene, the film draws the viewer in with its lush, pastoral landscapes and long, meditative shots that capture the desolate beauty of small-town Ontario. Throughout the movie, the filmmakers use shadows and silences to great effect, creating an uneasy and unsettling atmosphere that mirrors Valerie's psychological state. The score, too, is masterful, blending haunting refrains with plucky, folksy tunes that evoke both the beauty and the brokenness of the film's setting.

Sheila McCarthy delivers a powerhouse performance as Valerie, imbuing the character with dignity and complexity. We get the sense that Valerie is truly remorseful for what she's done, but also that she's struggling to come to terms with how much she's lost because of her mistake. Her relationship with her son, Mark, is particularly fraught, as he's held onto years of resentment towards her for abandoning him and his sister after the accident. Yet despite their strained dynamic, there are moments of true tenderness between them that show just how complicated their relationship really is.

Katie Boland is equally fantastic as Alison, Valerie's daughter who's been struggling with her own demons since her mother went to prison. Boland deftly portrays Alison's vulnerability and pain, capturing the sense of isolation and loneliness that she feels as a young woman grappling with trauma. Grace Glowicki is also notably great as Krystal, a young woman who becomes entangled in Valerie's story and whose own secrets threaten to unravel the delicate balance of the film's world.

What makes Cardinals so impressive is how it refuses to offer easy answers or tidy resolutions to its characters' problems. This is a movie about real people dealing with real pain, and there are no shortcuts or shortcuts to healing. Instead, the film allows the characters to breathe, and in doing so, gives the audience space to sit with the film's many emotions. The result is a movie that's both heart-wrenching and hopeful, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

Overall, Cardinals is a must-see film for lovers of indie cinema and character-driven dramas. It's a gorgeously crafted movie that combines stunning visuals with nuanced performances, and a story that's as poignant as it is powerful. Watching this film is an immersive experience that will stay with viewers long after the credits roll, and it's a testament to the talent of everyone involved in its creation.

Cardinals is a 2018 thriller with a runtime of 1 hour and 24 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.6.