Being reminiscent of both Parasite (2019) and Get Out (2017), Raging Grace (2023) follows Joy (Max Eigenmann), a Filipino woman living illegally in the UK with her daughter, Grace (Jaeden Boadilla). Working a myriad of cleaning jobs trying to raise enough money for a visa, Joy thinks she has hit the jackpot when she is hired as a live-in housekeeper for the Garret estate, but the job turns out to be too good to be true.
The film is a slow burn yet has a constant air of threat and unease from the first minute. This is due to the living situation that Joy and Grace find themselves in, as well as the way that those who hire Joy speak to her and treat her. This is exacerbated by the score that is very classic horror fare, with its discordant strings and constant low hum putting you on your guard from the get-go. It is effective without ever being spectacular, which can be said for many aspects of the film. The cinematography is similar. It is shot well and has plenty of symmetrical shots in the vein of Stanley Kubrick which, if you know anything about me, is something I will never complain about. But, like the score, it isn’t something to write home about, being solid without being overly striking. Narratively it is similar. As I mentioned, the film is a slow burn which is fine, but when it does get going it feels like it is rushing a little bit to fit in all the narrative points it wants to. This makes the twists and turns effective for the film generally but left me feeling like they could have been more effective if a little more time had been given to planting the narrative seeds before they bloomed. This doesn’t end up being too much of a crutch for the film in the end as all the lead performances are excellent. Max Eigenmann is brilliant as Joy, as is Leanne Best as Katherine, but the MVP of the film is David Hayman as Mr. Garrett. His screen presence is undeniable with you not being able to look away in any scenes he is in, and he manages to be both warm and loving whilst being harsh and unnerving. It is a gripping performance and elevates the material for me. Overall, it is a solid horror film that is engaging and has a constant dissonant tone that keeps you on edge, but it rushes its narrative and twists a little towards the end leaving you feeling like it could have been more.
Raging Grace is available to watch on BFI Player.
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