Movie Review: Gwen

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Making its debut on Shudder this Thursday (October 17), Gwen is a strange film. I absolutely wouldn’t classify it as anything close to horror. It’s best described as an atmospheric period piece about a family that’s down in the dumps from start to finish. Throw in some strange disease that’s ailing the mother, as well as a ton of misfortune, and you have Gwen. While I was watching it my wife said, “What’s the point of this movie?” I don’t have a good answer for her because this film doesn’t seem to serve any purpose. It merely exists. Not a whole lot happens in this movie and there’s more silence than sound. It’s as if the viewer is simply watching a family fall apart. The ending isn’t satisfying either. In a word filled with real-life negativity and depressing predicaments, the last thing I want to do is watch a movie mired with them. With this in mind, I can’t recommend Gwen to anyone.

Official Synopsis

In this stark and atmospheric tale, Gwen is a young girl struggling with her mother’s mysterious illness, her father’s absence and the suspicious local community that has turned on them. Somehow Gwen must find the strength to guide her family through the darkness and overcome the evil that is taking grip of her home. Starring Maxine Peake, Eleanor Worthington-Cox, and Richard Harrington, directed by William McGregor.  

2 thoughts on “Movie Review: Gwen”

  1. Tom Sawyer – Malibu, CA – Novelist, screenwriter, playwright Thomas B. Sawyer was Head Writer/Showrunner of the classic CBS series, MURDER, SHE WROTE, for which he wrote 24 episodes. Edgar and Emmy-nominated, Head Writer/Showrunner or Producer/Story Editor on 15 network TV series. He has written 9 series pilots, 100 episodes, both comedy and drama. He wrote/directed/produced the feature-film cult comedy, GOSH ALICE GOODBODY. His documentary film, REUNION, was honored by the New York Film Festival, the Rochester and Edinburgh Festivals, and received national theatrical release. Tom is co-librettist/lyricist of JACK, an opera about John F. Kennedy which, backed by the Shuberts, has been performed to acclaim in the US and Europe. He is publisher of STORYBASE 2.0 writer’s software. Tom’s book, FICTION WRITING DEMYSTIFIED, and STORYBASE software are Writer's Digest Book Club Selections. The best-selling mystery/conspiracy thriller, THE SIXTEENTH MAN, about JFK's assassination, is his first novel. His latest thriller is the best-selling NO PLACE TO RUN, the first novel to make the case that 9/11 was a conspiracy. He's taught writing at UCLA, at other colleges and universities, at numerous major writers conferences, and online at Screenwriters University. www.ThomasBSawyer.com
    Tom Sawyer on said:

    Michael:

    *Loved* your review of GWEN! The titles of at least half the films being released these days could be dropped in instead. At year end, Holly and I give the dozens of screeners we receive our “10 minute test” (with the exception of fantasy, which we don’t watch). Most don’t make it that far.

    Best, Tom M: 310.614.9448 H: 310.456.8766 http://www.ThomasBSawyer.com *A MAJOR PRODUCTION!* The* new* *Barney Moon, P.I.* novel

    On Mon, Oct 14, 2019 at 2:05 PM Michael Cavacini wrote:

    > Michael Cavacini posted: “Making its debut on Shudder this Thursday > (October 17), Gwen is a strange film. I absolutely wouldn’t classify it as > anything close to horror. It’s best described as an atmospheric period > piece about a family that’s down in the dumps from start to finish.” >

    Reply ↓

    • Thanks, Tom! What bothers me about a lot of films nowadays is many of the so-called blockbusters are 2.5 hours or longer, which is crazy. Good for you and your wife for placing a premium on your time.

      Reply ↓

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