Leading a cult is all about manipulation and control, but what happens when what you’re teaching backfires horribly in your face? That’s the question that is explored ever so beautifully in the new film, The Mire. It starts on the night before the group’s planned ascension where we find the charismatic leader, Joseph (Anthony Knight) attempting to make his leave. He’s stopped and questioned by two of his followers; Marshall and Hanna (Joseph Adelakun and Holly McLachlan) who are wondering just where he thinks he is going on this, the night before the most important morning in the group’s history.
It doesn’t take long for Hanna and Marshall to deduce that Joseph is planning his escape but rather than coming to the conclusion that everything he has been preaching to them, for more than eight years, is a lie, they land on the exact wrong thought of, maybe he has just lost his way. Marshall and Hanna whisk Joseph away to a small room in the back with a table, sit him down, and begin to question him about everything. This is when we start to see flashes of the past for all of the characters and how they ended up where we found them on this night.
“That’s just the way it is…”
Joseph Layton (Anthony Knight) is a charismatic and engaging cult leader. Knight plays him with a nuance that is at times unnerving and that is very much the point. It’s fun to see the scenes of Joseph editing his cult videos before he sends out the broadcasts onto the internet because they really showcase what a giant phony he is. Under all the bravado and self-confidence that he shows to anyone who will pay attention is really a scared little boy, seeking that attention and the control of others. Joseph definitely preys on the damaged and the ones who will be the easiest to manipulate. Knight does a fantastic job with the character.
Joseph Adelakun is Marshall, a man with all of the problems in the world. He comes to Joseph seeking something that he couldn’t find in his own life, addicted to alcohol and not knowing where to go from there. He was easy pickings and brought into the cult with very little effort. Adelakun plays the role to a T and we can see his progression from one form of addict to another. He simply replaced alcohol with the cult life and called it a day, believing in everything that he was told, and whose mind could not be changed. It is a great performance.
Hanna is played by Holly McLachlan and again, just like Marshall, she has demons that she is running from. Hanna is moving away from a previous relationship and a secret abortion and that leaves her wide open to be swayed by Joseph and his teachings. McLachlan is wonderful in the role and really sells the duality of a troubled past and fighting for a future she was taught to believe in by a con man. She plays the part almost with sadness because somewhere deep inside she has to know that this life is no better than the last.
“…things will never be the same.”
Adam Nelson directed the film and really ratchets up the tension with his use of a static camera and the layered flashbacks that fill in the rest of the story. His use of closeup was never overdone so when it was a tight shot we knew to pay attention. This is only his second feature film but already we are starting to see a unique style taking shape and that is always an exciting evolution to be witness to. It will be fun to see what he ends up doing next.
The Mire was written by Chris Watt (Stalker) who has a way of layering a story so that the tension can begin right away while he slowly unfolds the why of everything at his own pace. Like Stalker, this film once again relies heavily on dialogue to tell the story and fill in the blanks but Watt is excellent at writing it in such a way that none of it seems forced, everything comes out and is delivered naturally. It’s really well done.
Conclusion:
This film is an interesting look into the ways of cult culture and how one might break down another person’s beliefs to instill them in their own. Manipulation is the name of the game and The Mire shows that process and how it is a slow and methodical drag that one has to have patience with. The film takes the time to show us the time it takes and how even at the very top of the chain the message could be just for fun. There is a moment in this movie where Joseph compares himself to The Wizard of Oz and for my money, that seems like an accurate statement. The man behind the curtain, pulled all the strings.
The Mire was a tense ride that didn’t rely on action set-pieces or flashy effects to draw our attention, the film focused on these damaged characters and their need to fit in. It showed us that at our core, some of us will do anything to be part of a community. I really enjoyed this movie, it’s a slow burn but that is in no way a slight, in fact, I think it’s good for a film to draw us in and force us to pay attention, even to the ugly side of life. It helps all of us to appreciate the beauty that surrounds us even when we think there is nothing but darkness.
If you’re into movies that keep you guessing then you’re going to want to see this. Grab a friend (gather your cult) and give this movie a go. You won’t really know who to root for but you will know that one or some of them are going to come out on top. The fun is trying to figure it out before the filmmakers show you in a sudden jolt at the end of the third act. This movie is going to definitely be gaining a cult following. Do you think that’s enough cult puns? The Mire was fantastic.
Watch The Mire
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