Photo © Lívia Pasqual
Thrilling Yet Nuanced
A father who craves power. A son who hides desire. A daughter who carries the soul of a demon.
The Veil lets you in on every secret this family has.
Originally titled O Véu, The Veil is a Brazilian short film that tells the story of a family-led cult that lures in members with staged exorcisms. Following the suicide of a member, horror awaits the cult as the leader’s daughter becomes truly possessed.
The film’s visual storytelling is intoxicating. Cult members sit beneath a thin white veil with the leader’s children to exorcise demons and commune with the dead. A part of you understands how the members are pulled in. The faces silhouetted beneath the near-translucent veil are beautiful and frightening, evoking an otherworldly appeal.
Still, the film always reminds you of the artifice behind the cult’s presentation. The paradise behind is just a backdrop. The swelling music is from a soundboard. This crafted presentation provides the perfect setting for unearthly forces to claw to the surface.
The beating heart of The Veil is what lurks beneath the surface: the pastor’s childrens’ secrets. As the daughter (Rafaela Lima) faces possession, her brother (PHILL) struggles with his repressed homosexuality, and when his suppressed desire and paranoia overwhelm him, the impressive performance and cinematography make his panic palpable to audiences.
Gabriel Motta’s film is thrilling yet nuanced. It has all the elements of an exciting horror movie while remaining a thoughtful commentary on faith, sexuality, and control.
The Veil (United States Premiere, 20 minutes, Brazil, not rated, in Portuguese) is one of five short films (including Benny’s Second Birthday, Breadsong, Mine, and The Last Snow) screening during Shorts #6: Red Eye Cinema at the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival April 23-28.