The film actually went a few layers deeper than the trailer reveals, which was a smart move on Roadside Attractions' part. In doing so, it allowed the film to surpass my own initial expectations, which were quite high, I might add. So, by the time the third act hit, I was already pleasantly taken aback by a wonderfully dark plot development that I didn't see coming. In fact, there's a lot to whet an appetite with this picture. If anything, I think that the ending may not fully satiate many moviegoers, and, to be frank, it fell a bit flat for me, but it also left me with the want to immediately see it again. And, in the endings defense, after looking into the original source material, the conclusion that Birch chose is a vast improvement to that of the novelization.

Overall, my quibbles with the film are fairly trite and minor and can be boiled down to only two grievances.

The foundation of Katherine and Sebastian's relationship, which begins in an interesting way, but ultimately reduces itself down to a period piece rendition of 40s and 50s cinema, wherein man forces himself on girl, girl says, 'no no no, how dare you,' and pushes him away, and then decides that she's into it and gives him what he came after. Although, to be fair, that portion was lifted from the book, which also doesn't really merit full pardon. We are basically withheld Katherine's background and how she came to be married. The reason for this should've been given up front, as it doesn't really make an impact on the overall story; it's just blatant withholding. If anything, it's used to justify Katherine's actions with Sebastian, which wouldn't have changed at all had this exposition been presented earlier in the narrative.

Another minor thing I noticed that is noteworthy in a good way is that the film had pretty much no score, whatsoever. There are two, maybe three instances of score, which are just swells and droning tones to heighten the thematic tension. Other than that, it's an entirely built soundscape consisting of Katherine's breathing, the creaks and groans of the house, and the howling wind.

I would definitely encourage you to see this one in theaters. It's a film that challenges you as a viewer, but entertains all the same. Fans of Game Of Thrones should find it an easy watch, as it's basically about twisted characters and the motivations lurking behind their plays and actions.

Rating: 4 tightly drawn Victorian corsets out of 5.