One my my favorite horror films of the last decade was 2015's "The Witch", I loved how the movie set a dark tone that continued to get darker and darker as the movie progressed. I don't mind horror films that are a little lighthearted or even a bit humorous, however I really love when a horror film decides to just be dark & dreary as possible without ever really making you feel like things are going to get better. "February" does not quite pack the punch the The Witch had but it is still a very interesting film with a pitch black tone.

The film follows Kat and Rose, two girls at an all female boarding school who are left alone at the school when their parents fail to pick them up for break. From there things take a bit to really get going, the film moves at a very slow pace however I thought that worked and matched the tone well. There really isn't much action or shock scenes, but for me that just made the shock scenes even better when they finally did happen. There was one scene in particular that kind of just pops out of nowhere and actually gave me chills a bit.

I honestly don't have a lot to say about this film, but at the same time I really felt the need to write review because this is one that stuck with me and had me still thinking about it a few days after viewing it. It's not perfect, the pacing won't be for everybody and I'm sure many people will find it too drab and depressing to get any enjoyment out of it. But I really liked it and think it does a good job of standing out in a genre that is filled with too many cliché films.

7/10

'The Blackcoat's Daughter' is a dark and brooding suspense about two pretty but very different teenage girls left behind at a religious boarding school during a winter break. The eldest girl has devised to stay behind and has made plans to visit her boyfriend. The younger, more reserved girl seems anxious, and grows distraught about her dilemma. Our third lead character is a mysterious and troubled young woman (Emma Roberts) who has fled from a psychiatric institution and is making passage towards the school. She's helped by a concerned middle-aged couple.

The film cuts erratically from girl to girl, to the girls together with the two remaining staff members, and to the traveling young woman. Interwoven with these cuts are some brief and confusing flashbacks. All hell begins to fly loose and the audience is tasked to make sense of it. This is fun for some, but frustrating for others.

The tempo is mostly slow and the mood is dreary, but it's not tedious to watch. The sound effects and track were way over the top and became a distraction. I'm convinced that a blind person could piece things together just with the sound and a basic description of the scenes and characters. The set and costumes were unremarkable and lent nothing... a solid D. The acting was largely convincing and our three leading ladies did very well, B+ or better.

Those who appreciate thoughtful suspense that presents the audience with a puzzle with minor twists, then you'll certainly enjoy this. It's for this reason that I strongly advise viewers NOT to read any reviews that contain spoilers or an extended synopsis, nor seek out trailers or clips. This is a good date or bestie movie for those who can enjoy a macabre suspense. It allows plenty of conversational material during and following.

There are some moderate horror elements to the movie, increasingly so towards the end. These elements won't repel those who don't normally enjoy horror flicks nor fulfill the explicit horror fans.

The first hour of this movie is impeccably written and directed. I have mixed feelings about the last third, at which point most of the subtlety, creepiness, and mystery which had up to that point made the movie so compelling and intriguing is dumped in favor of a bloodbath.

This is a 6 star movie with 10 star acting, and the first hour of the movie so successfully generates a sense of eerie, atmospheric dread that I feel justified in bumping it up to 7 stars. 19 year old Kiernan Shipka displays the kind of masterful control over her facial expressions one doesn't often see even in actors with decades of experience. Many things contribute to the atmosphere I mentioned, including a fantastic soundtrack and superb pacing.

Regarding the latter, pay no attention to reviewers who are claiming that this movie is "slow." There is a distinct difference between intentionally deliberately paced and slow. A deliberate pace combined with savvy editing and eerie sound design is often what separates truly excellent horror film making from the kind of breakneck paced, unatmospheric junk we usually see. I would imagine that the people who are criticizing the pace of this movie probably don't appreciate classics of the genre like The Haunting (1963), The Changeling (1980), or The Innocents (1961). If those aren't your kind of movies then you probably won't like this one either.

I'm still thinking about the last half an hour of this film. I think the writer / director made some miscalculations and moved the plot in a direction that ultimately brings the movie down a couple of notches. That's not to say it's conclusion is a complete failure. The last two shots are striking and much more in keeping with the first hour. Maybe I should give it an 8. In any case, for fans of carefully constructed and well-made horror films, this is a must-see. Maybe not quite an inevitable classic, but perhaps a near-miss.