The Haunting at Saint Joseph's (2023)

The horror film The Haunting at Saint Joseph’s, directed by Jon Cohen, is a work of spiritual color and psychological tension. Set in an ancient guest house – St. Joseph’s Guesthouse – the film follows Lily, a newly engaged Muslim doctor, who comes here with her boyfriend and a group of friends to organize a pre-nuptial vacation. From the beginning, St. Joseph’s evokes a dark historical mark: this is the place where sacrificial rituals took place, suspected to be related to a young girl who was hanged centuries ago.

Not long after arriving, Lily and her friends begin to experience unusual phenomena: strange noises in the middle of the night, fleeting shadows, and a feeling of being constantly watched. Panic gradually creeps in as each member of the group becomes increasingly psychologically affected, emotionally disturbed, and even paranoid. The film opens with flashbacks of the sacrificial ritual and the hanging of the girl Mary – flashbacks interweave the past and present history together, creating a deeply haunting space. In particular, the atmosphere of the film is reinforced by reasonable shocks, scary images and tense background music, keeping the audience in a fragile state between waking and dreaming.

While critics commented that the film is not really excellent in terms of script – sometimes the development is quite slow and lacks depth – many opinions still appreciate the effort to build the atmosphere and psychological effects. Some new to 3/5 said: "'If you want real demons, you may be disappointed, but the biggest demons come from people themselves'". Convention Collective rates this as "a fun film for those who love mystery, witchcraft and folklore". The script focuses on exploiting the tension between the characters, when feelings of love, jealousy, and insecurity are amplified under the influence of ghosts from the past. Lily - in the role of a kind mother - becomes the emotional center, when she has to protect her love while facing increasing psychological pressures.

Overall, The Haunting at Saint Joseph's is a horror-thriller with a light folklore tone, suitable for watching on Halloween or an evening when you want to experience a creepy feeling. Although not really deep in content, but with a haunting atmosphere, spiritual elements and acting that conveys small group tension, the film is still a choice worth considering for fans of this genre.