The Blackcoat’s Daughter: A Patient Horror Film That Builds to Something Truly Memorable

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The Blackcoat’s Daughter is a slow burning horror film that builds to something pretty great. I feel like the entire film is based upon one line and as the film progresses it all begins to make sense. It is very simple and effective in its violence, plotting and shock value. In the end, I was pleasantly surprised at the mayhem that had just unfolded in front of me. First-time director/writer Oz Perkins should be applauded for creating a lot with little.

The Blackcoat’s Daughter revolves around two students stuck at their boarding school during the winter break. Rose (Lucy Boynton) is the cooler older student who just might be pregnant (older boyfriend) and Kat (Kiernan Shipka) is the freshmen creeper who might or might not be possessed by something terrible. Also, we are thrown into another story featuring a distraught woman named Joan (Emma Roberts) who is hitchhiking her way to an undisclosed location with a nice married couple. Eventually, the two stories collide but not before we get some insane violence, demon worship and lots of blood.

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The performances are all solid and the true standout is Kiernan Shipka. She plays the character with the right amount of unhinged creepiness and earnestness. You feel for her and whatever inhabits her is truly mean and has no intention of playing games or not hurting people. I also respect that there are zero twists that occur during the 95-minute runtime. The film unfolds at its own leisure and gives you exactly what you need to know and not much more.

If you like slow burn horror that features solid performances and a great payoff I totally recommend you check out The Blackcoat’s Daughter.