The Unseen (2023) | Film Review

Will you see what is unseen? That is the question that is posed to us by Chicago’s Lakefront Pictures and Gravitas Ventures latest psychological horror The Unseen, written by Jennifer A. Goodman and directed by Vincent Shade. RJ Mitte stars as Tommy Olson, a law school student soon to be graduate that is looking to make his way in the world while trying to get out from under the thumb of his high-powered attorney father Dan Olson (William Mark McCullough). Beyond Tommy, the rest of the Olson family is kept in line by Mother Merideth (Sue Cremin), and sisters Kali (Ava Bianchi) and Lindsay (Jennifer A. Goodman). With any high powered attorney, especially one that is a white male, you can begin to understand the high demand and expectations that come from living in the Olson home. A wife always on edge for doing something wrong or stepping out of line, the youngest a rebel without a cause, the middle sister trying to be the mom to Tommy and Kali, and then there is Tommy, dealing with his own physical and mental health challenges as he struggles to be the man his dad wants him to be.

Turns out however that beyond just the influence Dan has over his family, his reach also spreads across the community. A history of affairs and sleeping around and putting fear into those that would cross him in anyway. Until a new fear is unleashed as murder after murder start to occur in this simple community. Who is behind these murders and what is the overarching cause behind them. What are we not seeing? Tommy ends up getting hired at a law firm that is not one of the big ones that Daddy Dan would have preferred. In fact there is something about this particular law firm that has Dan’s undies in a bunch. Enter Kristen Jude (Candice Rose), Tommy’s new boss which has her own ambitions to achieve. Since Tommy is not able to be a full lawyer until he passes the bar exam, Ms. don’t call her miss Jude, she’s married to the firm after all, has Tommy doing research on some cold cases that can’t seem to be solved. Tommy also finds help and direction from a fellow coworker Olivia (Kimberly Michelle Vaughn). The cases all seem to be related, leading back to the death of a high school student named Milly (Rebekah Kennedy). As Tommy digs into the cases further and further he begins to feel things and experience things differently than those around him, until he finally sees what is unseen in the films shocking ending.

Overall, RJ Mitte who is best known for playing Walter White Jr. in Breaking Bad, leverages his talents and abilities to carry the film in how he works with the surrounding cast. Standing up to his dad, wanting to impress his boss, show off to Olivia as he becomes attracted to her over time. RJ never misses a beat in how he tries to contain the monster possessing him inside as he is present in scenes and then melts away into his own mind. He truly helps the viewer ask the question, what of this is real vs in Tommy’s mind. William McCullough plays the cis het white power male role perfectly. One may say the performance is a bit cliché and formulaic but for the role and how it is written, the over the top-ness of the domineering, abusive husband comes across in a way that never feels forced. Jennifer and Ava where their roles are acted well, never really seem to find a place in the story except for some light-hearted relief. Ava shines more toward the end of the film when Tommy and her come face to the face with the truth. Candice Rose is chilling as Ms. Jude and even more so once you understand the full scope of the story at hand as is Rebekah Kennedy who in very little screen time makes her presence known as Milly in a way no one will be able to forget.

Production wise Vincent Shade uses all the horror tools in the chest to build the suspension and delivery, however the camera work and editing make the scenes feel a bit choppy and stapled together rather than a paintbrush on a canvas. Color usage in the film is on point for a psychological thriller with a lot of blue hues and shadows. What really makes the film pop though is the underlying score making you feel like this ever-present entity is always there lurking in the background waiting to strike at any moment, which also gives you a sense of worry and frustration. Frustration that Tommy won’t succeed, frustration that Ms. Jude won’t get these cases solved, frustration that Mrs. Olson will never be free of her husband, and that Milly will never get the peace that she is looking for. Will you be able to see what is unseen? Buy or rent The Unseen today on Apple, Amazon or other VOD services.

Listen to our full review of The Unseen on this episode of The Hollywood Outsider podcast: