Is Seances Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (2016)

📖 The Core Premise

With the release of Seances (2016), audiences are invited back into the world of Mystery. At its heart, the film explores complex themes wrapped in a compelling storyline. As the plot unfolds, we see characters navigating a world where stakes are high. "Seances, co-created with the National Film Board of Canada, presents a wholly new way of experiencing film narrative. By dynamically generating a series of film sequences in unique configurations, potentially hundreds of thousands of new stories are conjured by code. Each will exist only in the moment—no pausing, scrubbing, or sharing—offering the audience one chance to see the generated film. This project, co-created by the ever imaginative Guy Maddin, is a visual discourse on the impact of loss within film. All the sequences pay homage to lost silent films from the early day of cinema. Seances is nostalgic but it is also frequently hilarious. Part of the joy and sadness of Seances is that many possible narratives are created but they can be only viewed once before they disappear forever."

🎬 Performance & Direction

A movie's success often hinges on its execution. In Seances, Mathieu Amalric delivers a serviceable performance that keeps the narrative moving. The direction aims to balance pacing with character development, a hallmark of good Mystery. While there are moments of brilliance, the pacing occasionally dips.

🤔 Why You Should Watch (or Skip)

Is Seances worth your time? If you appreciate Mystery films that take risks, this is likely a must-watch. However, if you are looking for a flawless masterpiece, you might find some plot points predictable.

🏆 Final Verdict

Ultimately, Seances is a mixed bag with some redeeming qualities. With a runtime of 13 minutes, it asks for a significant time investment, but for the right audience, it pays off.

Our recommendation: Watch on OTT.