CHILDREN OF THE PINES (2023)

Streaming On Demand and digital download from Freestyle Digital Media!
Directed/Written by Joshua Morgan.
Starring Danielle J. Bowman, Sylvie Mohr, Kelly Tappan, Vivian Hunter, Ryosuke Sekoguchi, Vas Provatakis, Joshua Morgan, Mateo Taylor, Richard Cohn-Lee, Donna Rae Allen, Madison M. Bowman, Robert DeAngelo, Justin Deavers, Carson Jean Holley, Heidi Immler, Stephanie Kirves, David Raizor
Check out the trailer here!!

Riley (Kelly Tappan) left home for college and hasn’t been back, attempting to cut herself off from her alcoholic and abusive father John (Richard Cohn-Lee) and enabling mother Kathy (Danielle J. Bowman). But after her mother promises her that things have changed since she left two years ago, Riley decides to give her family one last chance and come home for the holidays. Upon arrival, Riley encounters her ex-boyfriend Gordon (Vas Provatakis) who reveals that he has been working for her father and often hangs around her parent’s house tending to their garden and maintaining the grounds. Put aback by her ex’s unusual attachment to her parents, Riley is doubly shocked when she finds that her parents have adopted a pair of children also called John and Kathy. Apparently, Riley’s parents have found a new religion to follow which involves some very strange beliefs and rituals.

Directed and written by 17-year-old Joshua Morgan, CHILDREN OF THE PINES is an impressive debut. It deals with the pretty expansive and bizarre ideas and I feel that, with more experience, the young filmmaker could do some great things. While there are some interesting ideas going on, though, the execution is where this film hits some rough patches. Fist and foremost, despite the fact that the acting is better than average for this type of low budget film, there is no real build in suspense and never did I really feel as if any of the characters were in danger. Actor Kelly Tappan does a great job of being confused and downright shocked at what she sees when she returns home—this confusion is warranted because much of the plot is held back in favor of a big shockeroo ending. But because there is very little build to this reveal, the ending doesn’t hit as hard as I feel was intended.

CHILDREN OF THE PINES feels as if it still needs some time in the cooker. The dialog is ok, but the story development, reveals, and revelations feel strangely paced. And once the shocker is revealed, the film kind of just ends, leaving me wondering what the heck was going on. I understand that there is definitely a culty and witchy vibe responsible for the final developments, but the way the film is presented makes it all feel very convoluted.

Tappan is the standout here as she really is the person who feels like the mouthpiece for the audience, constantly asking what the hell is going on and not understanding why these people she once knew are now devoted cultists. The climax where Tappan’s Riley must make some sort of choice is decently done, but there is a lot of muddy areas in this one. Still, I truly am interested in seeing what filmmaker Morgan has up his sleeve next. I feel if he develops his ideas and takes more consideration on where and when to reveal crucial details, he could be a very interesting storyteller as there are a few decent ideas at play here.