The Dreadful

by Mike McGranaghan

It takes guts to call your movie The Dreadful. That’s because, if it isn’t good, snarky film critics can say things like, “What an appropriate title!” Or, “This movie sure lives up to its name!” Natasha Kermani’s horror film may gain some notice for reuniting Game of Thrones stars Sophie Turner and Kit Harington. Anyone expecting GOT-level quality will be sorely disappointed because…well, pay attention to that title.

The setting is medieval England. Anne (Turner) lives with her mother-in-law Morwen (Marcia Gay Harden). Her husband Seamus - Morwen’s son - is off at war. They don’t know if he’s alive or dead. Into their lives comes Jago (Harington), an old friend who claims Seamus has perished. The women are unsure whether to believe him, but the possibility means they need to figure out how to survive on their own. Morwen, afraid that Anne will leave her, grows oddly murderous toward anyone she perceives as a threat to their unity.

There’s also a mysterious knight in a suit of armor roaming around the woods. His presence doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, partially since it’s not clear if he’s human or supernatural. Then again, Jago’s presence doesn’t make sense, either. Nothing significant is done with the character once he announces Seamus’ death. Both are here as potential threats to the women without being sufficiently developed to make viewers understand why they’re a threat.

Kermani appears unable to decide what story she’s telling. Turner and Harington don’t get many scenes together, so their reunion fizzles out, as does any intended tension between Anne and Jago. The knight pops up periodically without doing anything that could legitimately be described as scary. Morwen’s controlling nature spooks Anne; to us, the way it morphs into violence seems abrupt and unconvincing. The Dreadful weaves back and forth between these elements, never settling on a direction or a tone. The meandering nature of the film proves tedious.

Unsurprisingly, Marcia Gay Harden is the best thing in it. Her performance is suitably creepy, despite the dull nature of the plot. Everything else feels like a wasted opportunity, especially the return pairing of Turner and Harington. The Dreadful plods along for 94 agonizingly slow minutes, offering not a single good scare. If it’s boredom you’re looking for, though, the movie delivers that in spades.

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