In an era where horror films often lean heavily on jump scares and gore, Here After stands apart as a deeply emotional and spiritually resonant experience. Directed by Robert Salerno in his feature debut, this film explores themes of guilt, faith, and the afterlife through a harrowing mother-daughter story. Anchored by a powerful performance from Connie Britton, Here After dares to tackle its religious and supernatural subject matter with sincerity, fully committing to its Catholic iconography and spiritual journey.
The film’s contemplative nature immediately recalls Paul Schrader’s Dominion: Prequel to The Exorcist, a film praised by Roger Ebert for taking its portrayal of evil seriously. Like Dominion, Here After delves into the dark forces of the world with gravity, offering viewers a story not only about life and death but about the spiritual weight carried by those facing both.
A Miraculous Revival with Dark Consequences
The heart of Here After lies in the relationship between Claire (Connie Britton) and her daughter, Robin (Freya Hannan-Mills). Claire, a lonely American living in Rome, is doing her best to secure a bright future for her daughter, but the two are haunted by a mysterious tragedy from their past. When Robin suffers a near-fatal accident and miraculously returns from the brink of death, the relief quickly gives way to dread as Claire notices alarming changes in her daughter’s behavior.
What begins as a mother’s joy over her child’s recovery soon transforms into an unnerving realization that something malevolent may have returned with Robin. Once an aspiring musician, Robin loses interest in school and her passion for the piano, becoming increasingly pale and fixated on death. She starts to exhibit cruel and eerie behavior, leading Claire to suspect that her daughter’s miraculous survival may have come at a terrible price.
Faith, Guilt, and Spiritual Weight
Here After thrives on its ability to weave Catholic themes of suffering, guilt, and redemption into its narrative. Claire’s faith plays a crucial role throughout the film—her prayers in the hospital seem to bring Robin back from the dead, but she quickly turns to religion again as her daughter’s dark transformation begins. The question of whether an exorcism or divine intervention is needed looms large, forcing Claire to confront her belief system.
The film draws from deep-rooted Catholic iconography to heighten its emotional and supernatural elements. Imagery of baptism, crucifixion, and stigmata are subtly embedded within the story, serving as symbolic markers of Claire’s journey. The exploration of faith in Here After feels both authentic and grounded, lending weight to the film’s supernatural events and enhancing its emotional impact.
A Haunting Performance from Connie Britton
Freya Hannan-Mills is equally impressive as Robin, capturing the unnerving shift in character that follows her near-death experience. As Robin becomes more sinister, Hannan-Mills brings an eerie, unsettling presence to the role, keeping the audience guessing whether Robin is truly her mother’s daughter or something far more sinister.
A Slow Burn That Rewards Its Audience
While Here After is undoubtedly compelling, the film’s first act does suffer from some pacing issues. The repetitive nature of the early scenes can cause the narrative to drag, but patience is rewarded as the story unfolds. Once Claire and Robin’s backstory comes to light and the spiritual elements take center stage, the film hits its stride.
The turning point comes when Claire joins a local support group for those who have experienced near-death or supernatural events. This group provides a much-needed outlet for Claire, allowing her to explore her fears and faith more openly. Her relationship with the group’s leader, Dr. Ben (Tommaso Basili), adds another layer to the story, offering intellectual and emotional dialogue that pushes the narrative forward.
Catholic Horror with Heart
Here After is not your typical horror film. While it contains supernatural elements and unsettling moments, its real strength lies in its emotional and theological exploration of life, death, and the afterlife. Director Robert Salerno, along with cinematographer Bartosz Nalazek and composer Fabrizio Mancinelli, creates a haunting atmosphere through beautiful Roman landscapes, atmospheric lighting, and a haunting score that lingers long after the credits roll.
Salerno’s dedication to the film’s spiritual themes is what makes Here After so unique. Much like Paul Schrader’s work in Dominion, Salerno’s film tackles religious questions head-on, asking audiences to consider the possibility that something dark may be lurking beyond death. The incorporation of Catholic imagery throughout the film enhances this sense of spiritual unease, giving Here After a depth that goes beyond mere scares.
The final act of Here After delivers an emotional climax that ties together the film’s themes of faith, guilt, and redemption. Without giving too much away, the resolution of Claire and Robin’s story is as heartbreaking as it is spiritually profound, leaving audiences to reflect on the nature of life, death, and what may lie beyond.
Ultimately, Here After is a film that stays with you long after the screen goes dark. It is a thoughtful and emotionally resonant horror drama that treats its religious subject matter with care and respect, delivering a story that feels both deeply personal and universally relevant.
As Here After arrives in theaters and on digital platforms, it stands out as one of the most thought-provoking horror films of the year—a movie that doesn’t just scare but makes you think about the nature of life, death, and faith.