The Other Lamb
By Jeffrey Anderson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Thin but effective, violent story about all-female cult.
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The Other Lamb
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What's the Story?
In THE OTHER LAMB, Selah (Raffey Cassidy) has been raised in a cult that consists entirely of women -- except for their leader, the soft-spoken but unforgiving Shepherd (Michiel Huisman). He preaches to the women -- who are separated into "wives" and "daughters" -- telling them that he's protecting them from a "broken" world. The wives are treated slightly better than the daughters, although they must have sex with Shepherd whenever he beckons. Shepherd treats Selah with special care because of her beauty and because she is "pure" (i.e., hasn't yet begun to menstruate), but Selah becomes wary of his attentions. One day a police officer appears, and Shepherd tells the women that they must pack up and find a new home. Along the way, Selah's uncertainty grows into rebelliousness.
Is It Any Good?
This moody movie about a sinister cult is pretty thin when it comes to characters and situations, but its excellent cinematography brings a kind of power to its stance against predatory behavior. Written by C.S. McMullen and directed by Malgorzata Szumowska, The Other Lamb deliberately tries to retain some semblance of mystery around the cult's origin and operations. But it leaves too much out, and there are too many basic questions that go largely unanswered. In the end, it's just too hard to believe that this cult could have existed for as long as it has.
While Selah does eventually spring to life as a character, she's also a little hard to believe. How would it be for someone to be entirely raised in this environment, without any exposure to the outside world? Her rebellious streak seems a tad unlikely. Huisman is good, with his flowing hair and Jesus-like beard, conveying both calm command and a carefully disguised mean streak, although he seems a bit too young to have been in charge of the cult for well over a decade. All of that said, Szumowska's incredible compositions help bring things to life, from the arcs and claws of dead trees surrounding the figures in their landscape to the handmade webs of string that the women have woven around their camp. These details help The Other Lamb pass muster as a scary cautionary story that's worth checking out.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about The Other Lamb's violence. Is it more shocking because so much of it is directed at women? How much is suggested rather than shown?
How is sex depicted? What values are imparted? How did you interpret the scene between Shepherd and Selah?
Have you seen other portrayals of cults in the media? How does this compare?
Is Shepard a bully? How is he dealt with? What are other ways of dealing with bullies?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: April 3, 2020
- Cast: Michiel Huisman, Raffey Cassidy, Denise Gough
- Director: Malgorzata Szumowska
- Studio: IFC Films
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters
- Run time: 97 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: July 17, 2022
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