Anemone, the first film in eight years from three-time Oscar-winner Daniel Day-Lewis, has just been released amid great anticipation. Co-written by Daniel Day-Lewis together with his son and director Ronan Day-Lewis, the movie opens with Jem Stoker (Sean Bean, Game of Thrones) solemnly praying for strength before bidding farewell to his wife, Nessa (Oscar-nominee Samantha Morton, In America), and speeding away on a motorbike.
Jem is heading to an isolated shack in the Yorkshire woods, where his older, reclusive brother Ray (Daniel Day-Lewis) lives— a man Jem has not seen in 20 years. Their reunion is frosty, filled with long, tense silences that hint at deep unresolved issues.
Throughout its two-hour runtime, the film gradually reveals why Jem sought out Ray and what caused Ray’s self-imposed isolation. Blending elements of family drama, thriller, and horror, Anemone masterfully sets a moody, suspenseful tone from the start.
Ben Fordesman’s somber cinematography paired with Bobby Krlic’s enigmatic and haunting score, along with intense and mysterious performances, craft an atmosphere thick with dread and intrigue. Ronan Day-Lewis’s heightened directorial choices further deepen the film’s suspenseful and mysterious aura.
“Anemone has such a strong command of tone, with its deliberate pacing and richly layered storytelling.”
Author’s summary: Anemone is a haunting thriller drama that combines strong performances and atmospheric filmmaking to explore deep family secrets and lasting tension.