Kindred Spirits (I) (2019) User Reviews (26)

Effortful but Underplayed

[TwistedContent · 5/10 · 25 January 2020]

Lucky McKee ("May", "Red", "The Woman"), an arguably underappreciated filmmaker, is tearing a family apart in his newest feature "Kindred Spirits". It's not as impressive or dig-deep as "May" or "The Woman", but threads along nicely, offering a neat albeit familiar feeling story. I gotta say one thing though - I don't feel like the movie's poster is very beneficial, the surprisingly cheap looking result doesn't sell it at all.

Sadie (Caitlin Stasey) resurfaces to visit her childhood home after years of absence, to be together with her sister Chloe (Thora Birch) who's a single mother, and her daughter Nicole (Sasha Frolova) whose life Sadie saved 10 years before. Soon enough we discover that Sadie's past and traumas has affected her badly & she starts manipulating her family and everybody around them to achieve her ill minded goal. The story flows evenly, takes frequent turns, makes you feel some effort behind it and the surrounding atmosphere. The problem, however, is that despite the fact that all of the elements work at least on a decent level, the very same elements also feel familiar, rehashed and rather uninspiring. Messed up child/mother/sister/daughter/lover dynamics, dysfunctional family themes, dangers of obsession, little bit of that Hitchcockian feel, but not much originality. The most underwhelming part is the ending, the filmmakers optioned for the one I easily predicted during the first half an hour, the one that probably most did. A little awkward, the ending was. Nevertheless, "Kindred Spirits" also offer up decent performances by all the lead ladies & certain indie scene fans will appreciate seeing Macon Blair. Visually the considerably low budget can be seen clearly and often, in cinematography, editing and in the lack of action or creative camera work, but McKee still successfully manages to make it all worthwhile. The original score was decent, I can't say that about all horror movies on the same budget level.

"Kindred Spirits" most definitely isn't a bad movie, but it also feels underplayed, as if the potential has not been fully realised. That, plus the familiar story & characters along with the low budget makes up an average suburban thriller that's less than a sum of its good parts. Recommended to the fans of the cast & Lucky McKee. My rating: 5/10.

Froot Loops !

[terrazygotes-30881 · 5/10 · 31 January 2020]

This story is what is referred to, as a "guilty pleasure", or a guilty waste of time. It's a silly, emotionally-manipulative waste of time, which starts out fairly good and degenerates into more and more "wacko", as it goes along. The crazy plot keeps your inner "bad news junkie" salivating, even though you know, you're being taken for a ride,"over the top". Near the end, I actually thought, that it was going to go off formula, which surprised me, but it was just a tease. It actually went back to the expected script, amazingly, in a most awkward and unexplained manner.

This movie had an interesting storyline...

[paul_haakonsen · 6/10 · 19 November 2020]

Right, well I wasn't expecting "Kindred Spirits" to be the kind of movie that it turned out to be. I saw that it was a mystery horror/thriller, so of course I was interested in watching it.

But the movie was more of a drama thriller, I think. Not really much of a mystery in the movie, nor were there any proper elements of horror. Now, don't get me wrong, because that does not mean that "Kindred Spirits" was a bad movie. Actually it turned out to be an entertaining enough movie and one that definitely was surprising.

The storyline in "Kindred Spirits", as written by Chris Sivertson and directed by Lucky McKee, started out adequately enough, but it quickly took a turn for the more odd and somewhat disturbing. And that twist to the plot and storyline was something that I enjoyed, and it made for a good movie in my opinion.

"Kindred Spirits" has some good acting performances by the casted actors and actresses, but especially Caitlin Stasey stands out as being the most memorable of the cast, and she really carried the movie a great way with her individual performance.

When you sit down to watch "Kindred Spirits", keep in mind that this is not a run-of-the-mill horror movie, so you shouldn't be expecting a proper horror movie. However, sit down to watch the movie with the intention of watching a movie with a storyline that is somewhat offbeat and disturbing.

My rating of "Kindred Spirits" lands on a six out of ten stars. I was genuinely surprised with this movie and I was most definitely entertained by the movie.

*WARNING* IT'S A LIFETIME MOVIE

[corytrevorson · 3/10 · 18 May 2022]

The premise wasn't that bad. The dialog was weak. The normally decent actors were brought down by bad writing and poor direction. The ending was garbage. I wish Lifetime movies came with some kind of warning label.

Wedded at the Hip?

[lavatch · 1/10 · 15 January 2021]

This was a very disappointing drama about the bonding of Aunt Sadie and her niece Nicole, who are apparently the kindred spirits of the film's title. In fact, however, Aunt Sadie is mentally ill, and her strange behavior goes undetected by those close to her until it is too late.

At first, Aunt Sadie's behavior was simply bizarre, as she sought to emulate her niece to give the impression that they were sisters. But her motivation becomes clear when she wants Nicole entirely out of her life in order to receive the loving care of her sister Chloe exclusively.

Aunt Sadie is successful in seducing Nicole's boyfriend Derek. But she then brutally murders Alex, the lover of Chloe. At this point, the film has moved into the horror genre. The grisly details of Alex's death were nauseating. A ghoulish chase through the forest culminates in the slashing of Derek's throat by Aunt Sadie, who tries to pin in the crime on Nicole.

Aunt Sadie and Nicole both were prone to "famous temper tantrums." But it is clear that Nicole is much more balanced. But she is too slow in recognizing that she is being duped by her aunt. And, given the background that they were sisters, it was curious that Chloe never recognized that Sadie has never grown up, was suffering from infantile dysfunction, and desperately needed help. Instead, Chloe casually allows her sibling to drive a wedge between her and her daughter.

A visual metaphor in the film was the large toy house in which Aunt Sadie engaged in a ritual of communing with an idealized family. The dramatist Edward Albee used this image more successfully in his play "Tiny Alice." In the case of this morbid film, it is only the savvy police, who perform an investigation and become the first ones to conclude that Sadie and her niece were not wedded at the hip because the auntie was a documented case of being "fruit loops."

Did not enjoy this

[beatriceweager · 3/10 · 7 November 2020]

This movie is very bland and original, very bad acting, disappointed ending, did not enjoy this

An entertaining ride

[metfan412 · 7/10 · 5 November 2019]

Sadie moves back in with her estranged sister, Chloe and her teenage daughter Nicole. Nicole is a troubled teenage girl, but she has one true fried, Shay. Derek is her boyfriend, and he seems to make Nicole a happy girl again.

The movie really focuses on Sadie as we see how unhinged she becomes, as she starts to tear the entire family apart. Nothing will stop her to get what she wants, even if that means hurting the people she supposedly loves.

The actress that plays Sadie is the entire reason to spend the time to watch. She chews up the scenery every time she is on screen. Especially as we ride along with her, in her descent to madness.

"Bad TV?"

[rad84 · 4/10 · 28 May 2021]

Entertaining in a lifetime TV movie kind of way - kind of silly, questionable acting. There are moments that are tinged with that distinctive Lucky McKee vibe but this is definitely not his best. Enjoyable enough if there's nothing else on, just don't take it too seriously.

Better Than Most Lifetime Movies

[Stoshie · 7/10 · 29 October 2019]

MarVista Entertainment makes a lot of the movies shown on Lifetime. They tend to be very formulaic, all following certain thematic elements. It's almost like there is a checklist the movies follow, making them very predictable. This movie is no different, having a character with an obsession that the main characters don't see until the end, as is common in most of these movies. And then of course the movie ends quickly, with a resolution that leaves many plot points unresolved. Again, typical for these movies; after the last commercial, you get a quick ending that is often illogical in the way it comes about.

I gave this movie 7 stars only because of the performance of Caitlin Stasey as the sister, Sadie. She is excellent in her role. So much so that I am going to seek out other work she has done to see if she is as good in them, too. This movie, while so very stereotypical, is worth seeing just for her performance.

As an aside, MarVista also makes many of the movies shown on the Hallmark Channel. They, too, follow a certain formula, one that is entirely different from the one used for Lifetime movies. Anyone who has seen any Hallmark movies knows what I mean. Each channel has its own audience, I guess, and the movies are made to satisfy the types of audiences drawn to either Hallmark or Lifetime. Or both; I don't doubt there are people that enjoy both channels and the types of movies each channel features.

Be warned!

[mikepal60 · 2 January 2021]

No possible way that everyone was so incredibly stupid as to be so easily manipulated by so obviously a flake. The untrustworthy nature of Sadie's character was spelled out for all to see from the start. In order for dominoes of this story to work, the viewer must disregard too much reason. Sad, because the first half had the makings of an interesting story.

Stop, you must stop it.

[mattfrancis-03963 · 1/10 · 25 May 2021]

Honestly that wasn't good. In some ways it was and maybe the problem was more was needed of things to make this more interesting. The scene where the woman with the mask on and the guy was trying was too cringe - I mean just no. The creators director cast etc might as well pack it in now.

"Can't Go Home Again"

[Kamurai25 · 8/10 · 20 November 2020]

Great watch, could watch again, and can recommend.

This is a great realistic psychological thriller. You literally get to watch Caitlin Stasey carry the movie as a woman slowly showing that she's going crazy.

Honestly, with level of acting she displays in this, I'm honestly confused why she isn't as big as her co-star, Thora Birch, who feels incredibly under utilized. Though, this is the first time I've seen her able and playing a "mom type" character.

While Stasey clearly carries the movie, Sasha Frolova does her fair share of work as well.

The story itself is pretty average, but there is just enough production value put into it, and the idea is executed so well that it feels like excellent writing. To be fair, it did take quite a bit of talent to write the webs of lies weaved in the story. The level of sociopathy displayed is amazing.

It's a great movie from a psychological perspective, and I'm sure if you like "social drama" or suspense, then you'll like this one.

Quite good

[kosmasp · 7/10 · 23 October 2019]

Apart from the ending. And don't mean I would have liked it to go a different direction, it just seems to take the easy way out. It seemed to built up something really good (or bad) and then ... ah well you can't have it all, now can you. The acting is ok for a thriller of this kind and while you know where this is heading, Caitlin is quite a tour de force.

No matter what you think of her character (and there should be only one way you should feel about her), she carries the movie. Charismatic and at least at the beginning enigmatic too. So if you like thrillers in general, this will be right up your alley - try not to be to dissapointed in the end ...

Dreadful

[daviddunn-90653 · 1/10 · 9 June 2021]

I've seen many bad movies, but this is up there with the worst of them. Save yourself 91minutes of your life and avaoid this.

Nah. Take A Pass.

[wandernn1-81-683274 · 3/10 · 14 February 2022]

Not even really sure what this was supposed to be. It doesn't really fit into horror to me. Another one recommended by Amazon that just did not work for me.

Some murderous rage went on and a bit of insanity, and it wasn't really that entertaining. 3/10.

Hmmmmm

[jeffrey-charlebois · 1/10 · 3 February 2022]

I watched it, concept was interesting, but the fantasy music all the way through was dumb. The composer was probably told to compose for a fairytale story.

Too gory for Lifetime

[phd_travel · 4/10 · 25 January 2020]

Usually Lifetime thrillers are entertaining in a pleasant way. But this one was unpleasant looking and the ending wasn't well explained. Didn't like the gross violence which was worse than what we are used to in Lifetime. A wacko aunt story could have been good but it doesn't make sense here.

not too bad

[watcher2019 · 7/10 · 25 January 2020]

All of the acting was first class in this. Not a very original story, but it was well executed.

A movie for teenage girls... maybe...

[danthepoetman · 4/10 · 6 July 2022]

I would love for ANYONE to explain to me why (or how? Or howhy?) this flick bare the tags "horror" and "mystery"! The plot revolves around stealing boyfriends, talking, sister love, aunt and niece, how delicate it is to say this or that to someone else, a friend, your mom, your boyfriend, and on, and on, and on, and on! For the entire duration! Mind you, there is one scene that suggest violence, but you don't really see anything!

The actors are former sitcom stars, if I remember properly, and I must say it's good casting, because this seems like a sitcom or a soap opera through and through.

There are two male characters, but they are beyond sidekick status. Pale figures standing in some shadows behind the settings, that we understand are being, to an extent, used as pretexts by the main protagonists.

As to the (other) motives of the characters, they are suggested but all remain essentially undefined, vague, at best impulsive. You see them come and go, without a schedule, without goals, seemingly out of any regularity in their lives any rhyme or reason. I don't think I'll reveal anything by saying that the sister comes back, but we can't figure why she was gone and why she came back, how long she was away or where, if she was as she is in the present of the action or if she changed. There might lie after all, the "mystery" we were promised.

You need a few coffees to get to the end, or either you can sit on a per-arranged seat of thumbtacks.

Outside of that, it is well made nonetheless, and very decently played by the actors, obviously all pros. But I don't think it will satisfy "grown-ups" anywhere...

I was excited for this one

[queeroid · 6/10 · 17 February 2020]

Ultimately, it's _just_ okay. But I'm writing this review solely to give major kudos to Thora Birch for her most natural on-screen performance to date. Watch this one, if for nothing else, than to see what time and maturity can do for your craft.

Slow start...but worth the wait.

[digitalphotoperson · 8/10 · 19 February 2020]

This movie was extremely well done. It's starts slow and builds beautifully with an incredible pace. The acting is top notch. The directing is masterful. The music is Bernard Hermannesque. Worth a watch.

Caitlin Stasey is amazing

[tankfreak · 6/10 · 12 July 2021]

Caitlin Stasey absolutely nails her role as the obsessed and disturbed Sadie, a woman suffering undiagnosed schizophrenia who will stop at nothing to get the sole attention of her older sister.

Initially Sadie comes off as just the wayward quirky young at heart sister returning home to her older sister Chloe and Chloe's teenage daughter Nichole after a year of no contact and presumably very little in the previous years. We learn Sadie and Chloe were very close growing up, with Sadie seeing Chloe as dual big sister but also as a substitute mother figure, at least until Chloe got pregnant at a young age and then devoted all her attention to her daughter, Nicole. Nicole herself looked up to Sadie and saw her as a combination cool aunt/older sister. Initially Sadie seems to want to fill that role for Nicole and become the cool confidant, however, it becomes increasingly clear that what Sadie really wants is for things to go back to the way they were before Nicole came into the picture. Through a series of manipulations and eventual violence, she will do whatever she can to get Chloe all to herself. Or at least, that's what part of Chloe wants.

Now, I'm seeing several reviews here saying the movie is completely unbelievable because nobody ever knew that Sadie was mentally ill previously. Granted, there are flashbacks that show she was, at the very least, jealous, if not "troubled" at a younger age, perhaps her early teens, however, it's actually fairly common that schizophrenics not be diagnosed until later in life. Adult onset schizophrenia in women usually occurs between mid to late 20s (and in men, between late teens to early 20s) and Sadie celebrates her 26th birthday during the film, so that's exactly the right age. Also, again, she's been out of her sister and niece's lives for at least a year and her more obvious symptoms could have started in that time and may have even been the factor that lead her to return to her childhood home.

When Sadie initially re-enters their lives it doesn't take long for the audience to see that some of her mannerisms are odd, and later flat out manipulative and violent, but that's because we're seeing everything she does. As for the other characters, there really aren't many hints because she's laying seeds and trusting none of them will talk to each other about things. 3 of the characters being manipulated are teens and you can't tell me high schoolers don't fall for gossip. That puts it all on Chloe to notice, except that Chloe hasn't spoken to Sadie in at least a year and she already has her attention divided between her troublemaker daughter, who has just been suspended from school, and the secret relationship she's been having with a man who happens to be the father of Nicole's best friend. And she apparently works full time at some high paying job to afford that Mercedes. So when would Chloe have noticed? She and Nicole's relationship is strained so they wouldn't have talked about Sadie, and Sadie takes advantage of that. There's maybe one or two scenes where Chloe starts to notice that Sadie's behavior is odd, but she said herself that Sadie has always been immature, she she likely didn't think much of it. And Sadie covers herself well. In fact, I'd say that's the one downside to the overall plot. It's not entirely clear whether Sadie is schizophrenic or if she's suffering dissociative identity disorder, but her dominant side (for lack of a better term) does seem to recover almost immediately whenever she does seem to regress into her childlike mindset. Plotwise, that's likely why no one has caught on to her mental issues, but it does seem a little convenient.

Anyway, this is way longer than I meant it to be but I will agree with everyone that the end needed some work. As has been mentioned, they gave this great tease for a less conventional ending, but then gave it a wham-bam Lifetime ending after all. And I'd actually be cool with that ending too, but it needed a little more build in the last 10mins to get us from what we think is the ending to the actual ending.

So overall, I'll give it a 6. Not Lucky McKee's best, but far from bad and had some gore elements I wasn't expecting from a Lifetime movie. Caitlin Stasey was brilliant though and absolutely this is worth watching for her performance. Sasha Frolova, Thora Birch, and Macon Blair were also very good in their roles, but Stasey really leads this one.

Enjoyable psychological thriller

[haroot_azarian · 10/10 · 28 January 2020]

My previous contribution must have been rejected. So I am giving it another go. This was surprisingly very good for a TV movie. Contrary to what two contributors said, the ending was neither illogical no disappointing. The crazy one finally got caught!

psychological thriller

[haroot_azarian · 10/10 · 21 January 2020]

Contrary to what two of the reviewers said, the ending was neither disappointing nor was it illogical. Good acting all around, and psycho finally got caught! end of story!

It could of had a better ending!

[tinkerbell1479 · 8/10 · 25 July 2021]

This is just a small review about the movie. I enjoyed this film, and I loved that Caitlin Stasey was in it. I think she played the part of Sadie really well. It's one of my favourite parts that she has played. The movie was really good up until the end. I'm going to try and explain what I mean without revealing any spoilers. I think from the part of the police interviews near the end of the movie, it felt very rushed and there was no explanation as to how they had found out things. I just think it was rushed and they could of done a better ending.

The only reason I gave it an 8 out of ten was because of Caitlin Stasey, she played her part brilliantly.