The Beldham squeezes a tragic, haunting story through acting with occasional scares and loads of discomfort.
The Beldham is a winding, almost surreal journey of loss and grief. There are scares and the ever-present question of whether the protagonist is imagining things or whether an entity lurks inside the home. It clues audiences in that something is off at the outset. While it sometimes feels unnatural, viewers can’t help but identify and sympathize with the lead, a single mother struggling with her own demons. The Beldham squeezes a tragic, haunting story through acting with occasional scares and loads of discomfort.
Written and directed by Angela Gulner (The Girl Who Wasn’t Dead, How She Caught a Killer), the story follows Harper, played by Katie Parker (Absentia, The Fall of the House of Usher), returning to her family home with her baby, where something evil threatens her and her child. Returning to the family home, she sees Sadie, performed by Patricia Heaton (Everybody Loves Raymond, Beethoven), and an aide, Bette, played by Emma Fitzpatrick (The Social Network, Take Back the Night), present to assist.
The Beldham Builds Discomfort
From the start, it’s clear something’s amiss. Harper tucks in her baby while a little girl asks for attention. However, when Harper arrives at her family home, there is no little girl or mention of them. Sadie’s frayed nerves make her interactions with Harper abrupt and stilted. Still, Sadie and Bette handle Harper with care, and given outsiders’ reactions, it’s obvious Harper struggles with reality. But the question is whether it’s a both scenario or one.
The Beldham places audiences firmly with Harper. So, her confusion and her images and experiences make viewers uncomfortable alongside her. However, audiences are aware something is amiss. It’s especially apparent when strangers witness Harper’s behavior regarding her baby. But the film does a stellar job of revealing some unexpected answers by the end.
The Women Turn Out Moving Performances
Katie Parker is fantastic in the lead role. She inspires sympathy even when some of her behavior feels frustrating to viewers. Given her roles in previous films, it’s unsurprising that Katie Parker can do much with an emotional role where the threat is obscure or unknown. Patricia Heaton’s performance feels like a wicked stepmother because of her brusque and combative attitude. Although her responses can annoy viewers, she is at her wit’s end with whatever’s happening. Many of us experience that same frustration over time.
Emma Fitzpatrick’s acting counters Heaton’s. She gives Harper warmth and understanding. Once The Beldham reveals the twist, there’s also an understanding humming in viewers and a hope that the change stays. When the reveal happens, you cannot help but pity every person involved. Life and loss are hard to experience. But when other factors blur reality, that is both horrifying and soul-wrenching.
The Beldham deals in shadows even with its grounded performances from its cast. Its haunting final scene pulls hope, sadness, and dread as audiences wonder, “Is it over?” That ending image alone is enough to earn it a recommendation. But the performances feel real, and it’s easily possible. Katie Parker, as Harper, delivers a heartbreaking spiral of confusion and anger. The care in crafting the story and building the relationships gives the end reveal its impact. Though there are horrifying moments, The Beldham works more as a drama than a horror and is worth checking out.
