Séance is writer director Jan Miller Corran’s period drama set in California in 1892. The film draws inspiration from August Strindberg’s play Creditors and uses its historical setting to explore emotional conflict, fractured relationships and the unsettling ways grief and desire can shape behaviour. The story centres on Emma Strand, played by Scottie Thompson, who finds herself torn between her husband Albert and her former partner George. George now lives with his wife Lillian whose fragile mental state is tied to the loss of their child. When a violent storm forces all four characters into George and Lillian’s home, the film shifts into a chamber piece where tension builds through confined space and unresolved history.
Although the premise suggests a traditional gothic narrative, Seance focuses more on psychological turmoil than supernatural fear. The film examines how internal storms mirror external ones and how unresolved guilt, longing and resentment can create an atmosphere as unsettling as any haunting. Corran’s script uses the period setting to highlight social expectations and emotional restraint which intensify the characters’ conflicts.
The performances form the core of the film. Thompson presents Emma as someone caught between responsibility and temptation. Jilon VanOver brings complexity to George whose controlled exterior hides deeper turmoil. Connor Paolo portrays Albert with quiet intensity that gradually reveals itself. Vivian Kerr’s portrayal of Lillian adds another layer to the story as her vulnerability and instability influence the dynamics within the house. The ensemble works together to create a sense of emotional pressure that grows as the storm continues.
The film’s craft supports its tone. Cinematographer Johanna Coelho uses lighting and composition to enhance the sense of confinement and unease. Editor Toby Yates shapes the pacing to reflect the characters’ shifting emotional states. The production design reinforces the period setting without overwhelming the intimate nature of the story.
