Séance
October 2nd, 2026
MOVIE: SÉANCE
STARRING: SCOTTIE THOMPSON, CONNOR PAOLO, JILON VANOVER, VIVIAN KERR
DIRECTED BY: VIVIAN KERR
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 3 STARS (Out of 4)
RATED: PG-13
RUN TIME: 85 MINUTES
For an independent film to succeed, directors and writers often have to limit themselves to minimal locations, a small wardrobe budget, and little to no unnecessary spending. That can make a period piece seem almost out of the question. For writer/director Vivian Kerr, however, the challenge of creating a dark, moody narrative set in 1892 Victorian California must not have been too daunting, because the result is an impressive haunted gathering. Séance is a creepy and mysterious drama filled with dark twists and deceptive people, crafting a thrilling chamber piece that succeeds far beyond its limitations.
Emma (Scottie Thompson) and her husband Albert (Connor Paolo) are on a romantic vacation at a quiet California beach, hoping for some peace and a fresh start to their new marriage. As fate would have it, Emma’s ex-husband George (Jilon VanOver) and his wife Lillian (Kerr) cross paths with them. When a storm rolls in, everyone is forced into George’s home for shelter. Once inside, the conversation takes a darker turn, centering on the recent death of George and Lillian’s child, whose spirit seems to be haunting Lillian beyond the grave. The idea of conducting a séance to bring the child back soon takes hold. As they attempt to summon the dead, other secrets are unearthed, and a dark conflict emerges between everyone involved.
Inspired by August Strindberg’s play Creditors, what makes Séance work is that it isn’t simply a ghost story, but an emotional drama about love, loss, regret, and the ways grief can consume a person. Kerr’s writing allows all four characters to reveal their strengths and weaknesses, creating a compelling mystery beneath the supernatural story. As a tense dinner turns into the pivotal séance, the gathering becomes an opportunity to expose each character’s darkest secrets. Emma and Albert argue over their failure to consummate their marriage, George undeniably still shares a connection with Emma, and Lillian slowly reveals the depths of her dark and twisted mind.
On top of Kerr’s sharp writing, there is equally strong direction. She uses the confined space to create tension without relying on cheap jump scares that would diminish the material. The gorgeous costumes, beautifully crafted sets, and atmospheric lighting make Séance feel as though we’ve been transported back in time, while the story itself remains universal in its exploration of lies, grief, love, and deceit. Nothing about the film feels stuffy or contrived. Instead, every element feels carefully considered and expertly crafted.
Performance-wise, all four actors deliver strong work, with each bringing something distinctive to their roles. Thompson earns the highest marks, gradually shifting Emma from a seemingly cold-hearted woman into someone forced to confront the regret and consequences of her decisions. Kerr is equally effective as Lillian, portraying a woman whose grief slowly gives way to something far more disturbing. Paolo and VanOver round out the ensemble, helping create the complicated emotional history that keeps the gathering from becoming a simple supernatural affair.
The film is reminiscent of Ted Geoghegan’s Brooklyn 45, another ghost story that traps its characters in a room, forcing them to confront the past, the present, and the possibility of spirits haunting the halls. Like that film, Séance understands that the most frightening material often comes from what people carry with them rather than what might be lurking in the shadows. It’s a terrific combination of gothic horror and independent drama.
Although the narrative may fall just short of being a four-star film because of its small setting and limited number of characters, Séance succeeds as a tense independent horror film that consistently rises above its limitations. Much of the praise belongs to Kerr, who directs with precision, delivering well-thought-out scares while giving the story a depth that many ghost films lack. Gather around the table, join hands, and engage with the superb Séance.
3 STARS
SÉANCE WILL BEGIN A LIMITED U.S. THEATRICAL RELEASE ON OCTOBER 2ND, 2026. FOLLOWED BY A NORTH AMERICAN VOD RELEASE ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH, 2026.
Written by: Leo Brady
