Watch Stephanie

Stephanie is a 2017 horror/sci-fi film directed by Akiva Goldsman, and stars Shree Crooks, Frank Grillo and Anna Torv. The movie revolves around the life of Stephanie, a young girl who stays alone at home while her parents are away. However, strange things start happening to her, and she begins to experience a series of paranormal events that threaten her life. The film begins with Stephanie's parents leaving her alone in their house, and immediately we see glimpses of an eerie atmosphere taking over. The sound design is expertly crafted with sharp noises and sudden cuts that put you on edge right from the beginning, and the cinematography creates a restrained and isolated environment that reflects the character's solitude. Stephanie spends her days talking to her stuffed animals and watching TV, and we see her playing in a make-believe world that she herself has created. However, as the days go by, we see that Stephanie is not alone. Unexplained occurrences begin to happen around the house, with objects moving or disappearing and strange voices whispering her name. Through her eyes, we are introduced to a world where reality is twisted and nothing is what it seems. Stephanie is at once fascinated and frightened by the things happening to her, and as she tries to make sense of her experiences, we sense an underlying dread building up. Interspersed with the scenes of Stephanie's haunted world are glimpses of her parents' lives, and as the plot thickens, we start to learn more about their backstory. They are torn between their love for their daughter and their secrets they are hiding from her. Meanwhile, a mysterious man played by Grillo wanders into Stephanie's life with his own reasons for being there. The film does a fantastic job of playing with the audiences' perception of reality, with each scene hinting at something egregiously off-kilter but never truly showing its hand. Instead, the plot lures you in with a carefully crafted atmosphere of dread and abnormality, where anything seems possible, but nothing makes sense. The film's pacing is deliberate and measured, with each scene building towards the film's shocking climax. In the final act, we see Stephanie put to the test as she must confront the source of the strange occurrences in order to protect herself and the ones she loves. Overall, Stephanie is a tense and thought-provoking film that expertly blends science fiction and horror to create an unsettling and captivating experience. The young lead actress, Crooks, delivers a remarkable performance, grounding the film and earning both sympathy and respect from the audience as she navigates the film's terrifying nightmarish world. Without giving away too much, let's say that the film's ending is a haunting and powerful conclusion that is sure to leave a lasting impression on viewers. All in all, Stephanie is definitely worth checking out for fans of the horror genre who enjoy introspective and atmospheric storytelling.