Movies: Went Up the Hill (2024) by Samuel Van Grinsven: The Three-Way Nocturnal Dance

A quiet, psychological ghost story aligning with the "Elevated Horror" trend, driven by two central performances and the thematic exploration of generational trauma, shared grief, and emotional possession.

A Haunting Meditation on Trauma: An atmospheric and unsettling supernatural drama: This Australian/New Zealand horror-drama takes the conventional possession story and twists it into a chilling, dialogue-heavy meditation on unresolved grief and the toxic legacy of an abusive mother whose spirit constantly switches between her estranged son, Jack, and her widow, Jill.

• Content: Jack (Dacre Montgomery), the estranged son of deceased artist Elizabeth, arrives uninvited for her funeral in remote New Zealand. He meets Elizabeth's widow, Jill (Vicky Krieps), who had no idea he existed. Elizabeth's spirit returns to haunt them, physically possessing each person while they sleep, forcing Jack and Jill into a life-threatening, nocturnal dance that exposes the destructive nature of the woman they both loved.

• Movie Trend: It is a contemporary Elevated/Psychological Horror-Drama focusing on trauma, grief, and atmosphere over explicit gore or action.

• Social Trend: It addresses the modern social focus on Generational Trauma, Healing from Familial Abuse, and the struggle to let go of destructive emotional legacies.

• Director Info: Directed and co-written by Samuel Van Grinsven (Australia/New Zealand), who co-wrote the script with Jory Anast.

• Major Awards and Nominations: 1 win and 3 nominations total, including the Audience Award at the Luxembourg City Film Festival 2025. Premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2024.

• Runtime: 1 hour 40 minutes (100 minutes).

Insight:

• For Filmmakers: Successfully using a high-concept horror premise (body-switching possession) to explore deeply personal psychological themes (abuse, trauma) is the hallmark of "Elevated Horror" and guarantees festival visibility (TIFF, Thessaloniki).

• For Consumers: The film caters to viewers who appreciate strong dialogue and mood over conventional jump scares, utilizing the supernatural as a metaphor for psychological distress.

Why it is Trending: Star Power and a Clever Possession Twist

The film gained traction due to its star-studded lead cast, particularly Dacre Montgomery (Stranger Things) and Vicky Krieps (Phantom Thread), and its unique narrative twist on possession films, turning a typical horror trope into a vehicle for examining complex family trauma.

• Star Power: The combination of Dacre Montgomery (known globally from Stranger Things) and Vicky Krieps (an arthouse darling known for Phantom Thread and Corsage) provides significant cross-market appeal.

• Narrative Twist: The premise of a single spirit switching between two living characters, rather than permanently possessing one, is noted by critics as a "nice twist on possession films." This setup creates constant ambiguity and heightens the psychological drama.

• Festival Buzz: Its premiere at TIFF and subsequent festival run (Adelaide, Thessaloniki) established its critical credibility early on.

• Critical Praise: Critics lauded the film as a "Haunting Meditation on Trauma and Healing," suggesting it transcends simple genre filmmaking.

Insight:

• For Filmmakers: Combining a marketable genre (horror) with known, critically acclaimed actors is a highly effective strategy for securing both financing and international distribution (Greenwich Entertainment, Bankside Films).

• For Consumers: The implied consumer trend is a demand for original, thought-provoking horror that uses the supernatural to explore deep, resonant emotional tru

Why to watch this movie: A Masterclass in Dual Performance and Atmosphere

Watch this movie for the superb acting challenge tackled by Dacre Montgomery and Vicky Krieps, who must convincingly portray three characters with two bodies, and for its rich atmosphere that contrasts the stunning New Zealand landscape with a cold, isolating modern house.

• Acting Challenge: The film requires the two leads to essentially portray three characters (Jack, Jill, and Elizabeth-in-Jack/Jill), using subtle shifts in mannerisms and intensity. Critics called the acting "superb."

• Emotional Resonance: The film's themes, particularly those related to abusive parental legacies and feeling "possessed" by trauma, resonate deeply with audience reviewers, suggesting a strong cathartic experience for some.

• Gothic Atmosphere: Director Samuel Van Grinsven successfully crafts a "quiet, beautifully photographed" environment, contrasting the "gorgeous New Zealand landscape" with a "cold, concrete home that feels like a tomb."

• Non-Traditional Horror: The film is commended for being a horror movie that is "neither slasher, sequel, nor re-tread," offering a fresh, gothic, and meditative experience.

Insight:

• For Filmmakers: Utilizing a minimalist setting (mostly one-location) and strong visual contrasts (cold house vs. wild nature) effectively focuses attention on the high-quality performances and the dialogue-driven tension.

• For Consumers: This is an ideal film for those seeking an indie drama-horror experience, willing to embrace a dialogue-heavy, deliberately paced movie that explores the long-lasting effects of trauma.

Where to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/went-up-the-hill (US), https://www.justwatch.com/ca/movie/went-up-the-hill (Canada)

Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14303268/

Link Review: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/sep/11/went-up-the-hill-movie-review-film

About movie: https://www.bankside-films.com/films/went-up-the-hill

What Trend is followed: Elevated/Psychological Horror-Drama

The film follows the "Elevated/Psychological Horror-Drama" trend, where supernatural elements (possession) serve as a heightened, non-literal metaphor for real-world emotional crisis, specifically focusing on the internalized effects of trauma, grief, and broken identity.

The film is a clear example of this trend by:

1. Prioritizing Psychology: The possession is used to communicate the "long lasting effects of trauma" and how a destructive legacy continues to "affect the living" even after death.

2. Visual Symbolism: Critics pointed out the "stark imagery" and thematic use of mirrors, reflection, and water to emphasize themes of "broken identity" and "fractured personality."

3. Subverting Horror: The film avoids conventional genre tropes, focusing on quiet, atmospheric dread and dialogue to build tension, rather than cheap thrills.

Insight:

• For Filmmakers: Placing a story squarely in this trend is a proven path to critical success and differentiation in the current market, as festivals and critics reward films that use genre to achieve thematic depth.

• For Consumers: This trend attracts audiences interested in thought-provoking indie cinema that offers psychological insight alongside genuine unsettling atmosphere.

Movie Plot: The Spirit of Elizabeth

The plot centers on Jack and Jill, two strangers united by the funeral of Elizabeth (Jack’s mother, Jill’s wife). Despite Jill’s initial unawareness of Jack’s existence, she invites him to stay. As they sleep, Elizabeth’s spirit begins a nightly pattern of possessing them sequentially. This terrifying communication forces the living to grapple with Elizabeth's unresolved trauma and destructive nature, culminating in a life-threatening, physical confrontation.

• The Inciting Incident: Jack's unexpected, semi-invited arrival at the funeral of his estranged mother, Elizabeth, acts as the catalyst, forcing two emotionally wounded strangers together in an isolated place.

• The Core Conflict (The Possession Twist): Elizabeth's spirit doesn't rest; it begins inhabiting Jack and Jill separately as they sleep. This creates a terrifying dynamic where one person wakes up, possessed, and communicates with the other, dredging up past secrets and trauma.

• The Stakes: The spirit's intent is revealed not to be one of healing, but to continue being a "destructive force from the grave," threatening the emotional and ultimately physical survival of the survivors.

• The Conclusion: The film builds in intensity until the power of Elizabeth "crosses into the physical realm in a thrilling and disturbing final act," forcing a conclusion to the story's themes of trauma and healing.

Insight:

• For Filmmakers: The "compartmentalized" nature of the relationships and the possession device effectively create high dramatic tension in a low-budget, single-location setting, proving that concept trumps scale.

• For Consumers: The nursery rhyme connection to the title (Jack and Jill) and the impending "tumbling down" builds intellectual suspense alongside the horror.

Director's Vision: The Aesthetics of Trauma and Reflection

Director Samuel Van Grinsven's vision is centered on a precise, atmospheric aesthetic that uses the vast, beautiful, yet treacherous New Zealand landscape and the cold modernist house to reflect the emotional distance and buried trauma of the characters. He emphasizes visual symbolism, particularly through the use of mirrors, water, and reflective surfaces.

• Atmosphere and Mood: The direction prioritizes mood over plot speed, creating a "low-key, atmospheric movie" that contrasts the stunning visuals of the Southern Alps with the sterile, modernist architecture.

• Symbolism: The "strong composition" and intentional use of mirrors, reflection, and water emphasize themes of fractured identity and the internalization of emotions, key to the psychological focus.

• Performance Direction: Van Grinsven successfully directed the challenging dual performances, relying on the actors to convey the subtle "shifting the intensity slightly and adjusting their mannerisms" to signal the possession.

Insight:

• For Filmmakers: A visually rich, cold, and controlled aesthetic is key to establishing the mood required for successful psychological horror, ensuring the setting becomes a character in itself (like the "tomb-like" concrete home).

• For Consumers: Viewers who appreciate films where cinematography (Tyson Perkins) and score (Hanan Townshend) are essential narrative tools will be rewarded by the director's vision.

Themes: Generational Trauma, Possessive Grief, and Self-Healing

The film explores the profound themes of generational trauma (the abusive maternal legacy), the possessive nature of unresolved grief, and the difficult, necessary journey toward self-healing, forcing the living to survive the emotional destruction left behind by the dead.

• Generational Trauma: The film explores how an "unhappy life transcends death" and how trauma passed down by an abusive person can continue to destroy the living, forcing Jack and Jill to confront a destructive legacy.

• Emotional Possession: The literal possession is a metaphor for the way trauma can possess the living, with the question posed: "What if the pain of life doesn't end with death?"

• Self-Healing: The film ultimately poses the question of whether the victims will "allow themselves to be hurt" or if they can find the strength to heal "within ourselves," suggesting a difficult but ultimately cathartic journey.

• Secrets and Estrangement: The plot is driven by the lifetime of secrets Elizabeth kept, forcing Jack and Jill to unravel the truth about their pasts and their shared connection to her.

Insight:

• For Filmmakers: Choosing a resonant, universal theme like generational trauma and using the horror framework to visualize its destructive power is a potent formula for critical acclaim.

• For Consumers: The film attracts audiences interested in complex psychological and family themes, rewarding them with a cathartic, though dark, meditation on healing.

Key Success Factors: A-List Talent and Concept Execution

The film's success is defined by the high-caliber performances of its lead actors in a technically challenging role, the effective execution of its unique body-switching possession concept, and the immediate critical validation from its Toronto International Film Festival premiere.

• A-List Talent: The combined star power of Dacre Montgomery and Vicky Krieps ensures high-profile coverage and international sales.

• Concept Execution: The film succeeds because the unique possession twist (switching bodies) is used not for spectacle, but to drive the central emotional and psychological conflict.

• Critical Support: The TIFF premiere and subsequent Audience Award win cemented its position as a high-quality, thought-provoking genre film.

• Technical Quality: The superb acting, "beautifully photographed" cinematography, and strong score contribute significantly to its elevated status.

Insight:

• For Filmmakers: Securing actors capable of carrying a demanding, two-person ensemble is critical for a low-budget, one-location psychological drama. The execution of a high-concept premise must serve the theme first.

• For Consumers: The film attracts audiences who trust the taste of major film festivals and prioritize strong acting and original storytelling.

Awards and Nominations: Festival and Audience Recognition

As a high-profile festival title, Went Up the Hill secured the prestigious Audience Award at the Luxembourg City Film Festival, in addition to being a major selection at TIFF and receiving nominations in the genre categories for its strong trailer.

• Luxembourg City Film Festival (2025): Won the Audience Award, indicating strong emotional connection and positive reception from the general viewing public.

• Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF 2024): Premiered at the highly influential festival, marking it as a significant international selection.

• Golden Trailer Awards (2025): Nominated for Best Foreign Horror, confirming its successful marketing and genre appeal.

• Other Nominations: Includes nominations for the Golden Alexander at the Thessaloniki Film Festival and the Feature Fiction Award at the Adelaide Film Festival.

Insight:

• For Filmmakers: Winning an audience award at an international festival demonstrates the film's ability to resonate emotionally, a crucial metric alongside critical praise.

• For Consumers: The combination of top festival selections (TIFF) and audience awards (Luxembourg) signals a film that is both critically respected and emotionally engaging.

Critics Reception: Emerging Buzz from TIFF 2024

Initial critical reception, following its TIFF premiere, is highly positive, universally praising the unique possession twist, the superb ensemble acting, and the film's success in using horror to create a deep, cathartic meditation on generational trauma.

Key Sources & Consensus:

The most important sources (sites and magazines) that provided in-depth analysis include:

• TheWrap: Highlighted the film's "ferociously atmospheric, exquisitely creepy" nature, and praised the lead actors for their "virtuoso jobs of sliding back and forth."

• The Guardian: Described the film as a "stiff, formally austere" ghost story that is "cold as hell," acknowledging its sophisticated style while noting the "long and demanding ride."

• Screen Daily: Established the film as a "moody and sombre ghost story about grief, control and letting go of toxic relationships."

• The Playlist: Praised the film's "beguling aesthetic vision" and its lofty aspirations as a slow-burning paranormal drama.

• Screen Rant: Recognized the film's unique premise and the "layered, emotional performances" but critiqued the story for becoming "overlong and repetitive."

The key critical consensus is that the film elevates the horror genre by utilizing the supernatural possession as a powerful metaphor for the enduring, destructive force of unresolved familial trauma. Critics lauded the quiet, gothic atmosphere and the challenging, successful performances by Dacre Montgomery and Vicky Krieps.

Insight:

• For Filmmakers: The critical praise confirms that conceptual originality (the possession twist) and thematic depth (familial trauma) are the primary drivers for elevated horror films to achieve high critical acclaim and festival longevity.

• For Consumers: The consistency of the critical praise across multiple sources assures the audience that the film delivers a thought-provoking, emotionally resonant, and well-acted experience, even if the subject matter is dark.

Reviews: Focus on Performance and Trauma

Audience reviews (IMDb 6.0/10) reflect a deeply personal and cathartic experience for viewers who connect with the themes of trauma and abandonment, though its "dialogue heavy" and "deliberately paced" nature may limit its appeal for mainstream horror fans.

Initial audience ratings (IMDb 6.0) suggest a film that strongly resonates with a niche audience:

• Positive User Feedback: Reviewers who connect with the film's themes found it a "cathartic experience" that will "stick with me," specifically praising its honesty in addressing the difficult moments of dealing with an abusive maternal legacy. The performances are universally praised.

• Negative User Feedback: Likely based on its low-key nature, as the film is described as "very dialogue heavy" and "deliberately paced." Viewers expecting traditional horror scares or a neat plot resolution may find it frustrating.

• Niche Resonance: The film's low-key, atmospheric style confirms that it targets viewers who "are open to, and can vibe with its dark, somewhat gothic themes."

Insight:

• For Filmmakers: A high score for this kind of difficult subject matter indicates success in reaching the target niche audience, demonstrating that profound emotional honesty can outweigh high production values.

• For Consumers: If you are seeking a quiet, intimate, and emotionally challenging psychological drama that uses horror elements, the reviews confirm this filRelease dates: US Theatrical and Global Festival Run

International Premiere: September 5, 2024 (Toronto International Film Festival - TIFF) US Theatrical Release Date: August 15, 2025 (Greenwich Entertainment) Key Dates: Oct 26, 2024 (Adelaide Festival), Mar 8, 2025 (Glasgow Film Festival), Jun 5, 2025 (Sydney Film Festival) Runtime: 100 minutes

Insight:

• For Filmmakers: The long rollout between the TIFF premiere (Sept 2024) and the US theatrical release (Aug 2025) is a calculated strategy to build momentum through sustained festival presence and critical buzz before commercial release.

• For Consumers: The film's strong presence in major US and international genre festivals (Sonoma, Minneapolis St. Paul, Frameline) confirms it as a high-qu

What Movie Trend film is following: Elevated/Psychological Horror-Drama

The film is squarely aligned with the Elevated/Psychological Horror-Drama trend. This is characterized by using supernatural elements (like possession) as a non-literal metaphor for deep psychological trauma, prioritizing strong performances, aesthetic control, and thematic depth over conventional genre thrills. The film's dialogue-heavy, atmospheric style is a defining trait of this trend.

Insight:

• For Filmmakers: The successful blending of genre and theme provides a valuable model for independent filmmakers looking for critical visibility and strong festival acceptance.

• For Consumers: The film caters to viewers who appreciate cinema as a vehicle for psychological insight and are willing to engage with demanding, stylized narratives.

What Big Social Trend is following: Mental Health and Generational Trauma

The film is following the contemporary social trend of increasing focus on Mental Health and Generational Trauma. By literally making a destructive matriarch's spirit haunt her surviving family, the film provides a visceral and cathartic visualization of how the emotional and psychological pain of the past continues to possess the present, resonating deeply with current conversations about healing and breaking cycles of abuse.

Insight:

• For Filmmakers: Choosing a resonant, timely social issue like generational trauma and providing a unique, dramatic visualization of its effects ensures the film has strong cultural currency.

• For Consumers: The social trend signals that audiences are actively seeking and rewarding content that validates the complex, messy reality of healing from familial abandonment and abuse.

What Consumer Trend is following: The Demand for Challenging Arthouse Genre

The film caters to the consumer trend of demanding Challenging Arthouse Genre. This audience segment seeks high-quality genre films (Horror/Thriller) that are fundamentally character-driven, intellectually complex, and stylized, rather than purely focused on spectacle. The film's all-star cast, TIFF premiere, and unique possession concept satisfy the demand for substantial, high-quality, thought-provoking genre cinema.

Insight:

• For Filmmakers: The primary appeal is the film's promise of high-quality acting and conceptual originality within a genre framework, which attracts sophisticated audiences often underserved by mainstream cinema.

• For Consumers: This trend means that audiences are willing to tolerate slower pacing and ambiguity if the underlying performances and thematic concepts are strong.

Final Verdict: A Poignant, Uncompromising Vision of Grief

Went Up the Hill is a chilling and visually striking psychological drama that successfully redefines the possession narrative, turning a ghost story into a powerful, cathartic meditation on the toxic, enduring legacy of familial trauma. Anchored by the superb dual performances of Dacre Montgomery and Vicky Krieps, it is a significant and rewarding entry into the world of elevated horror.

Key Trend Highlighted – The film succeeds as a compelling example of Elevated/Psychological Horror-Drama, prioritizing thematic depth and performance over genre convention.

Key Insight – Filmmakers can learn that using a single, high-concept visual device (body-switching) to symbolize the shared internalization of trauma is a highly effective, low-budget method for achieving profound emotional and critical success.

Similar Movies: Cinematic Echoes of Isolation and Unconventional Journeys

The film shares thematic and stylistic DNA with films that use remote, isolated settings and supernatural or psychological horror to explore the complexities of grief, toxic family relationships, and the haunting nature of the past.

• Hereditary (2018): Shares the focus on generational trauma and a destructive maternal legacy explored through supernatural horror, prioritizing psychological dread and atmosphere.

• The Babadook (2014): Shares the theme of a terrifying supernatural entity that is a metaphor for unresolved grief and maternal breakdown in an isolated, confined setting (though Babadook is less remote).

• Phantom Thread (2017): Shared connection via lead actress Vicky Krieps, and shares the theme of a person (Jill/Alma) struggling to survive within a claustrophobic, intense, and demanding relationship that threatens to consume them.

• The Gift (2015): Shares the theme of a dark past resurfacing to haunt the present, where an estranged figure introduces unsettling elements into a settled life.

Insight:

• For Filmmakers: Associating with highly-regarded, stylized films that balance absurdity and profound sadness establishes the film's high artistic ambitions.

• For Consumers: These comparisons assure the audience that the film delivers the kind of artistic daring and thematic complexity found in established favorites of the genre.

💡 Final Insight on Market Positioning

Insight:

• For Filmmakers: The film's success demonstrates that a radical, uncompromising directorial vision, when coupled with a strong emotional core (grief/estrangement) and secured through a major festival premiere (TIFF), can command significant critical attention and establish a director as a unique voice in the challenging global Arthouse market. The casting of Dacre Montgomery acts as a high-value differentiator for younger, genre-aware audiences.

• For Consumers: This film caters to a segment highly interested in cinema that demands active intellectual engagement and offers profound psychological realism over conventional plot resolution. The horror-drama frame provides a compelling gateway to themes of trauma and self-healing.