Watch Ashes

Ashes is a 2015 movie which tells an unnerving story of two brothers, Stephen and Charlie, who after years of isolation as a result of their father's cruel and abusive ways, finally reconnect in their father's final days. The movie is a drama and horror blend, created by Matthan Harris, and casts Rupert Procter as Stephen, Graeme Rooney as Charlie, and Mark Wood as the abusive father.

The film revolves around Stephen and Charlie's traumatic past, which is haunting them and defining their present. The two brothers lived in the household of their father, a violent and tyrannical man who terrorized and abused them relentlessly. The story is opened by the words of the father, who condemns his sons and reminds them of his final words, which they would soon regret not heeding.

Stephen is living in America working for a drug company, while Charlie stays behind in England, where he works as a cleaner. The two brothers had been apart for several years due to their troubled past. They both carry scars from the past that seem almost impossible to heal; Stephen is a recovering alcoholic suffering from trauma, while Charlie is mentally unstable and has panic attacks. However, despite their psychological struggles, Stephen receives a call informing him of their father's ill health and decides to reconnect with Charlie to visit him.

Upon arrival in their father's estate, the brothers' demons are brought to light, and strange things begin to happen. They start to experience horrific and terrifying events, including visions of their father's ghost, strange noises in the house, and other inexplicable occurrences.

The storytelling is primarily set in the old mansion of their abusive father, which has numerous secrets that begin to unfold as the movie progresses. The mansion is eerie, with a spooky interior that creates a sense of foreboding before any of the more terrifying events occur. The imposing and somber atmosphere of the mansion is even more unsettling since it is situated in the midst of a dark forest in the English countryside.

The acting in the film is phenomenal. Rupert Procter and Graeme Rooney give excellent performances as the tormented brothers, with their roles not only requiring intense emotional depth but also a tremendous amount of physicality. Mark Wood, who played the father, gave an equally brilliant performance, which brings out the character's insidious and monstrous nature.

The visual effects and sound design are on point, further enhancing the eerie and eerie atmosphere of the mansion, which moves back and forth in time. The editing that takes place between past and present events is well-executed, making it easy for viewers to distinguish between the two via an editing technique that uses a hard cut, and this helps to keep viewers engaged throughout the movie's 71-minute run time.

In conclusion, Ashes is a compelling, emotional, and terrifying story that delves into the lives of two brothers who struggle to come to terms with their abusive upbringing. The dark and ominous setting, coupled with the stellar performances and sound effects, make for an unforgettable cinematic experience. It's a movie that will shock and make you think of the lasting effects of childhood trauma.

Ashes is a 2017 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 38 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1.