THE OFFERING

UK/US, 2022, 93 minutes, Colour.

Nick Blood, Emily Wiseman, Paul Kaye, Allan Corduner, Daniel Bens Zenou.

Directed by Oliver Park.

A small British horror film with a British cast, especially with veterans Paul Kaye (many episodes of Vera) and Allan Corduner (Sullivan in Mike Leigh's Topsy-Turvy).

However, the film was shot in Bulgaria and has a Brooklyn, New York setting. It also has a Jewish Orthodox setting which makes it seem more exotic than the regular horror films.

It opens very directly with an elderly Jewish gentleman subject to rituals, trying to be with his wife, a demonic appearance. The main part of the story concerns the son of an older, and the blood, returning to Brooklyn and his father with his British wife, Emily Wiseman, not Jewish. The father, played by Alan Corduner, conducts autopsies – and there are sinister happenings with the examination of the old dead man’s corpse. There is also the sardonic assistant, played by Paul Kaye.

There are various nightmares, especially on the part of the wife, and appearance of the dead man’s wife confronting the British woman, mysterious appearances, ritual explanations and ceremonies, circles… As well is a financial difficult background though ultimately, not much is made of that.

And, contrary to anticipation, the ending of the film is very grim.

1. A British horror film, the New York Brooklyn setting, filmed in Bulgaria, the British cast?
2. The title, the opening sequence, the old man, the eerie room, his rituals, the death of his wife, daughter, wanting them back, the Circle, the signs, the appearance of the creature? His death, taken to the morgue?
3. The Brooklyn settings, New York, the bridge, the river, the streets, the house, the Orthodox setting, rituals, prayer, gatherings? The morgue, autopsies, atmosphere? Musical score?
4. The Orthodox setting, Jewish history, religion, rituals, leaders? Mythologies?
5. The narrative, Arthur and Claire, returning from England, he returning home, American, she British, giving up her job, pregnant? Not Jewish? The background of financial dealings, the house, losing jobs? Saul welcoming them into the house?
6. Saul, his leadership, autopsies, widower, at prayer, his rituals? Attitude towards his son? Welcoming – but others memories of the past and the severity of his father? Leaving home? Saul and his kindly attitudes towards Claire and her pregnancy?
7. Arthur, the autopsy, the dead man, his story, disfigurements, atmosphere and its effect on Arthur?
8. Heimish, his character, working with the autopsy, antagonism towards Arthur, his remarks, criticisms? Sardonic? His getting the message from Arthur’s financial adviser, denouncing Arthur, showing the message to Saul? Arthur, his reaction, Claire and her surprise, her being accused of complicity? Confrontation with her husband?
9. The body, the odd happenings, his being infected? His father, with the body, and the sudden death of his father? Heimish, his help, calling in Chaim, his knowledge, information, and his death?
10. The atmosphere, evil possession, demonic presence, the appearance of the girl, Claire seen her at the wake, behind the curtain, disappearing? Are appearing to Arthur? Claire, her nightmares?
11. Arthur, more and more involved, Heimish and his help? The threats to Claire, the appearance of the old man’s wife, apparition, seeming real, ghostly, the threats to Claire under the table, Arthur trying to rescue, the repetition of the action?
12. The final confrontation and build up? The evil presence, the threats – and the pessimistic ending?