The Eternal Daughter

This mystery drama marks another collaboration for auteur Joanna Hogg and her long-standing, childhood friend Swinton, fresh off the back of the success of The Souvenir, Parts One and Two. The Eternal Daughter moves away from the naturalistic approach of the preceding endeavors and into a more supernatural place. Yet despite this, the film remains no less human. It's fascinating to see Hogg delve into a genre piece of this nature, and the inspirations from gothic horrors, notably from Hammer Horror, is prevalent -- especially in the striking score.

However, there is something a little cold about this film. While that can be expected in a movie about a mother and daughter who struggle, at times, to fully connect, in a big, vacant hotel -- there is a lack of emotion for us to invest in. Swinton makes this entirely watchable though, bringing such nuance to both of her roles. It's a remarkable feat that the film is mostly conversations between Julie and her mother Rosalind, and Swinton is playing them both. But the film thrives mainly in its mysterious, elusive edge, posing a number of questions, most of which remain unanswered.