THE STORY – This genre-bending otherworldly drama follows two brothers’ journey to avenge the spirits from their childhood that haunt them
THE CAST – Blake Alec Miranda, Forrest Goodluck, Brandon Oakes, and Glen Gould
THE TEAM – Bretten Hannam (Director & Writer)
THE RUNNING TIME – 87 Minutes
Following their coming-of-age TIFF 2021 gem “Wildhood,” Two-Spirit L’nu filmmaker Bretten Hannam returns with another distinctive depiction of Mi’kmaw culture, this time told through a haunting, otherworldly lens. With “Sk+te’kmujue’katik (At the Place of Ghosts),” Hannam has written and directed a tense ghost story from the painful shared past of two Mi’kmaw brothers. Echoed through interwoven horror and family drama, the film offers a spirited exercise in genre-bending. While the characters and overall story feel at odds with the abstract structure, Hannam explores heavy topics through a creative lens and an evocative use of imagery.
Once very close as children, siblings Mise’l (Blake Alec Miranda) and Antle (Forrest Goodluck) have a strained relationship as adults. Mise’l, who had moved away from home, returns to their community and awakens a vengeful spirit. The spirit forces Mise’l and Antle to put their personal differences aside and confront their violent past. They journey into an ancient forest known as Sk+te’kmujue’katik, the Place of Ghosts. In this forest, time is alive and unfixed, and colonial history is reflected as eras are blended. While here, Mise’l and Antle observe the child versions of themselves, who lead them closer to unearthing unspeakable guilt and buried trauma.
The malevolent spirit manifests as a shadowy figure; it moves with the wind, dissolves upon contact, and leaves an ominous mark on Mise’l’s body. Despite the spirit’s sudden appearance and lack of narrative buildup, it feels eerily in place within the environment. Its impact seeps into the horror/fantasy world that Hannam’s film deftly captures. Their poignant direction brings the brothers’ intense relationship and inner conflicts to the forefront. Jeremy Dutcher’s score builds suspense with an impressive blend of supernatural and fantasy elements, leaning heavily into the ominous sounds of trees. Cinematographer Guy Godfree conjures up memorable imagery from the film’s vast, primal forest setting. Godfree’s work also highlights the significance of the forest as a meaningful and spiritual connection between Indigenous people and their culture. It’s a place rooted in community, where the characters go for healing and answers.
Hannam excels at unearthing the story through an intriguing, otherworldly setting. The forest and its time-bending inhabitants reveal layered details about the brothers’ relationship. Hannam utilizes visual and sonic cues from the spirits and the forest itself to build upon moments that were particularly formative in the brothers’ childhood. Gradually, the viewer comes to understand why Mise’l had moved away, and how this distance affected Antler. Each subsequent revelation adds to a devastating portrait of family trauma, which makes “At the Place of Ghosts” a rather bleak and emotionally charged watch. The film can also be a lethargic and muddled watch, mainly in the first half. The intrigue ebbs and flows from uneven pacing. Some of the supernatural elements are underdeveloped, and the character dynamics are slightly overwritten at times. The vengeful spirit that haunts Mise’l and Antle is introduced very early on in the story. While visually effective, its impact feels premature given the lack of characterization for the brothers at that point, slowing the momentum.
The film regains its footing in the second half, when Mise’l and Antle descend under the forest’s spell to the point of no return, and the emotions that were left unsaid between them for years start rising to the surface. As their characters learn to understand each other in a new light and interact with supernatural interpretations of future descendants, the film explores resonant themes of community and culture. Additionally, strong performances by Blake Alec Miranda and Forrest Goodluck dominate the screen. Their chemistry effectively conveys the undertones of frustration and sorrow in an estranged relationship. The physical and emotional distance between them has made their shared truth even more unmanageable. As many of us have heard before, the only way out is through. There are no shortcuts to overcoming internal conflict; it’s a long and winding path towards healing. The narrative intrigue of “At the Place of Ghosts” gets a little lost along the way. But Hannam has a clear vision for where they want the brothers’ journey to go, and builds to a stirring final shot of self-reflection.
