Reviews: The Banishing (2020) Movie Review
Genres: Horror, Thriller, Mystery
Subgenres: Haunted House, Possession, Psychological, Supernatural, Thriller, Haunted House - Cursed, Religion, Satanic
Our review of The Banishing (2020) dives into the story, the scares, and whether it truly delivers the horror fans crave.
The Banishing (2020) is a gothic horror film that attempts to blend supernatural suspense with psychological tension, drawing inspiration from real-life hauntings and classic ghost stories. Directed by Christopher Smith, the film follows Marianne (Jessica Brown Findlay), who moves into a mysterious manor in pre-WWII England with her husband Linus (John Heffernan) and daughter Adelaide (Anya McKenna-Bruce). Linus, a reverend, is assigned to restore the town’s faith, but their new home harbors dark secrets, leading to disturbing visions, sinister forces, and an unraveling marriage.
The Banishing (2020) – A Gothic Horror That Struggles to Leave an Impact
Plot, Themes, and Character Development
At its core, the film explores guilt, repression, and the corruption of religious institutions, with undertones of patriarchal oppression. While the premise holds promise, the execution lacks depth, failing to fully capitalize on its psychological horror elements.
Marianne, the film’s strongest character, struggles against the societal and supernatural forces controlling her life. However, her arc never fully develops, making her transformation feel abrupt rather than earned. Sean Harris, as the eccentric ghost hunter Harry Price, provides an intriguing side character, but his presence is underutilized in driving the mystery forward.
Acting and Cinematography
Jessica Brown Findlay delivers a solid performance, bringing nuance and vulnerability to her role, but she is let down by a sluggish script that doesn’t fully explore her potential. John Heffernan plays a cold, repressed husband, but his character lacks complexity, making him more of a plot device than a developed individual. Sean Harris injects some much-needed energy, but his character’s role is disappointingly underwritten.
Visually, the film does well in setting an eerie atmosphere, using moody lighting, haunting set designs, and a washed-out color palette that suits the 1930s setting. However, the cinematography fails to generate genuine scares, often relying on predictable horror tropes instead of building suspense organically.
Directing Style, Strengths, and Weaknesses
Christopher Smith, known for Triangle (2009) and Black Death (2010), is a capable horror director, but here, his vision feels restrained. The film builds intrigue but never follows through, and instead of sustained tension, it relies on disjointed horror sequences that don’t leave a lasting impact.
Strengths:
- Strong lead performance – Jessica Brown Findlay brings emotional depth.
- Effective gothic atmosphere – The setting and cinematography enhance the eerie tone.
- Interesting thematic layers – Religious hypocrisy and repression add intrigue.
Weaknesses:
- Slow, uneven pacing – Lacks momentum, dragging in key moments.
- Underwhelming horror elements – Relies too much on atmosphere without real scares.
- Unexplored character arcs – Misses opportunities for deeper psychological horror.
- Rushed third act – The climax feels unsatisfying, failing to resolve the film’s themes effectively.
Final Verdict: 5/10
The Banishing aims to be an atmospheric slow-burn gothic horror but ultimately falls short due to uneven pacing, lackluster scares, and an underwhelming payoff. While Jessica Brown Findlay delivers a compelling performance, and the film boasts a haunting visual style, it lacks the emotional depth and horror impact needed to stand out. Horror fans looking for a gripping haunted house story may find it disappointing.
Sources Used to Shape This Review
Insights in this review are drawn from director interviews, fan commentary, production notes, and long-form breakdowns across genre-specific platforms. Content is written uniquely and reviewed for accuracy.
- The Banishing Rating Scores
- Our Score: 5/10
- Overall Score: 5.17/10
- IMDB: 4.5/10
- MetaCritic: 4.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 6.5/10
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