Inspired by his anger and infuriation at how migrants are treated in Britain, Writer/Director Paris Zarcilla explores the migrant experience in his debut feature Raging Grace. A Sociopolitical Thriller, the film was the winner of SXSW’s narrative grand jury award – the first ever British film to win the award.
In select theaters as of December 1st and On Demand from December 8, 2023 forward, Raging Grace follows Filipina domestic worker Joy (Max Eigenmann: Sparks 2014, Distance 2018). A single mother to Grace (Jaeden Paige Boadilla), Joy makes ends meet in various housekeeping jobs mostly for employers who either overlook her, condescend to her or both. In a last desperate bid to secure stability for her and her daughter, Joy is saving to pay a fixer thousands of pounds for papers to remain in the country. With time running out to procure the money needed, Joy accepts an unusual new position that promises to pay a lot better than what she is used to.
Hired by the passive aggressive and abrupt Katherine (Leanne Best: Star Wars: The Force Awakens 2015, Little Joe 2019), Joy agrees to be the housekeeper and caregiver to Master Garrett (David Hayman: The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas 2008, Macbeth 2015), Katherine’s great uncle and an elderly aristocrat who is dying of cancer and is semi-comatose. Joy moves into Master Garrett’s secluded, somber and ominous looking mansion and, thanks to her employer’s semi-comatose state, she is also able to bring Grace to stay as long as she remains hidden in their room. But soon Joy begins to notice odd things about her Katherine and her employer, and what seemed like the perfect solution to all her problems becomes anything but.
Raging Grace adeptly balances social commentary with Horror and Thriller elements, and it is really a toss up to decide which is more effective. Throughout the film is incredibly thought provoking as the audience witnesses Joy’s situation. It would be so wonderful to observe the ignorance and rudeness that Joy experiences as simply storytelling, but unfortunately it is completely indicative of a system and a country that has often made people like Joy feel isolated, demeaned and like they are a burden. It is never a stretch to imagine why Joy would take on such a position or indeed continue to work in a job where she feels uneasy because she has little other choice.
Elsewhere, Zarcilla creates tension with the use of traditional haunted house conventions such as creaking floorboards, jump scares, and awaking in a sweat from vivid nightmares. The visuals also add to this with muted tones that elevate the mansion’s creepiness and foreboding nature. Yet in spite of several Horror-esque events transpiring, the audience cannot help but feel that the real horror is simply humankind’s inherent nature to treat others poorly. All matters considered, Cryptic Rock gives Raging Grace 4 out of 5 stars.
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