User reviews

This was a really interesting premise and the setting was great and the director obviously has an affection for the area he shot it in.

The story set up was good and they started to look into interesting perspectives of how people would handle a 'miracle' performing child, but then mostly went off the rails to darkness and illogical evil.

The actors all did a great job with the characters they were given but this went from being a potentially insightful and deep film into a same old same old but well staged, shot and acted slight disappointment.

Great to see the 2 core actors from Rectify on screen again too.

1) First of all, lower your expectations, by no means it is a 10/10 nor a 9/10 movie. If someone watches this thinking that this is a masterpiece, they are gonna be disappointed.

2) This is a supernatural drama. There is a mystery element, there are also some dramatic moments and it gets intense during the last 15-20 minutes but it's mostly a slow, low-key drama. Biggest quality here is acting, every actor did a fine job. I can't say this is the most interesting movie i've watched but it was not boring either, i was curious to see where it goes and i enjoyed it. Nothing is being explained and for sure i wanted some answers but i didn't mind it much, i appreciated movie's enigmatic "nature".

3) Regarding of the ending, it was unexpected and that's a good thing. I mean, i am not even sure if i liked it or not but i liked the fact that i didn't see it coming.

Overall, this was good. I can't recommend it or not, there are better movies to watch but if you are a fan of this genre, you will probably like it. And i can tell for sure that there are far worse 2024 movies.

One of Cinema's greatest virtues is working with themes that discuss morals, belief, power and human nature. This proposal is never easy to execute, nor to be fully understood in the final production result. What is seen on the screen can often result in controversy, subversion and controversies even if the narrative there brings a portrait close to our reality.

The Canadian film The King Tide (2023) by Christian Sparkes aims to work with these issues. Here, the director intends to explore the changes in a peaceful, isolated and idyllic fishing village that changes its behavior after the unexpected arrival of a girl with extraordinary powers.

Of course, Sparkes uses Fiction, as well as metaphors and symbolism, to dialogue with much of what we see in society. Once again, Cinema reflects on the impacts of a community that will now need to deal with the powers at its disposal. Far from being another typical superhero film, the gift of the girl Isla (Alix West Lefler) will serve as the trigger for a series of changes in the village.

Another important resource for creating a dark atmosphere in the film is the desolate situation of the village itself. Furthermore, residents are determined not to have contact with other places, and they don't even look for doctors and clinics outside the island. This adds a tone of conservatism that ends up weighing on the girl's situation of extreme idolatry, in addition to impacting the antagonism of ideas among some inhabitants.

The final half hour also guarantees extra tension, all leading up to an explosive ending that will leave the viewer with varied interpretations and some questions. If this is what Cinema must be like, Sparkes is on a good path.

This film seems to have really flown under the radar. In some ways it might not have a wide appeal but that is not because of its content and likely due to its marketing. I suspect the marketing budget is small for a Canadian made film. Horror seeking teens may find the trailer too slow and dry whereas some of the shall I say more "mature"/ sophisticated audiences seem to avoid anything that could be labelled horror.

The concept is quite clever. A small community that has lived on an island for quite some time is struggling until a young girl is delivered to them as a baby in a divine way. Isla, is able to essentially solve all of their ailments in one way or another. The start is a bit of a slow burn , but in this time the characters are developed and you become more invested. There are some really nice shots of Canada's East Coast as well.

Once the plot hits its climax it had my full undivided attention. Moral decisions are made and the consequences of actions have you on the edge of your seat.

Nothing in the film is frightening in a horror movie kind of way , however there is some intense violence in brief periods.

Overall, despite its simplicity it's one of my favourite movies of 2024.

Watched this immediately after the Redlettermedia video came out today. I really enjoyed this film and as the title says I didn't want to turn it off once it was on. It's very bare bones and just a lot of talking but that's what makes it great. They were able to get so much out of the limited material they had. The cinematography is beautiful with a wonderful filming location.

All the acting is at least hood overall with some actors better than others. Maybe for a couple of scenes I would've done another take.

As another review said, some clever people don't do the smartest things. However, this is few and far between throughout.

I would also say you can get a bit lost scene to scene. It's from one scene in a kitchen to the next in annother vaguely similar but different room, maybe in the same house maybe not. Characters just turn up and they all look the same. Given the budget I can't fault this though, they did the best they could.

I wont spoil anything (don't read this just in case) but I did feel some of the characters at the end were a bit lacklustre. They could've been filled out more and they were just plonked into the story to see what happens. It could've been a bit more clever but shot slightly differently with a change to the dialogue and it would've worked well.

The concept for this film is interesting, but it is slow and plodding. The story is good, as is the acting, but theres very little momentum.

The cinematography is excellent, though because of the lack of momentum, I didn't feel any urgency or tension in the film.

Its not a horror film or thriller, but more of a drama with fantasy elements. I chose to watch it over two nights because I lost interest midway, due to the slow-moving pace.

I think this film would have been better at about 90 minutes. The dialogue, shots, and music are just too slow. Perhaps better editing would have been in order.

A king tide is not only the exceptionally high waves that typically occur during a new or full moon but is also the name of the movie I'm reviewing today. THE KING TIDE is a tiny Canadian-made mystery thriller about a tiny island of people. So small that everybody knows everybody. They happen upon a baby, who seems to have some kind of power, who they call Isla. Much like the movie itself, I'm going to leave you to fill in the blanks. The best description I can think of for this movie is that it's a grim fairy tale. Canadian award-winning director Christian Sparkes takes an idyllic island village, makes one small change, and we the audience get to see how it affects everyone. I'm very hesitant in telling you more because I want you to go in mostly blind. Everybody does a great job, especially young Alix West Lefler, who I have no doubt will have a bright future in the business. This movie has a slow burn that completely pays off, accompanied by a creepy atmosphere and intriguing world-building that slowly draws you in. It's such a shame that almost nobody has even heard of THE KING TIDE. Luckily, I have so now you have too. Go see it before it goes away! Many thanks for reading this, and of course, "Many thanks to Isla."

It's a mystery/supernatural drama where a girl with "healing" abilities gets locked up on a remote island by her foster parents. The premise is interesting and the movie holds your attention well until the very end. The finale has a nice twist that you likely won't expect. One of the ideas it delivers pretty well is that people's generic morals usually get trashed when it's about their survival or survival of their closest relatives. Also that most people are inherently egoistic and try not to share something that benefits them, even if the potential benefits to others would vastly outweigh.

Just think of the movie's premise: a girl can heal people almost instantly by just letting them come close to her. How would a scientist or an engineer react to such a phenomenon? Obviously, research WHAT makes her have these powers. Why? Because the implications can be revolutionary. Imagine the huge positive impact to medicine worldwide. Millions, even billions of people could be saved. Yet, none of the dimwits populating this island cares. For 10 years, they keep the girl to themselves and create a semi-religious cult around her. And when troubles start, what do they do? They gather in a anonymous alcoholics-like meeting. To do what? No, not to strategize. But to "share their feelings" while holding a plush bear. The girl's step-father is the guy who found her as a baby. It was a random find so it could as well be anyone else. In his eternal wisdom, he doesn't want the girl to get abused by the "mainlanders" (the world outside the island). I guess, because scientists will stick needles into her and crack open her skull just out of curiosity, right? It's certainly better if she grows on a remote island and thinks that Paris is an imaginary place from fairy tales and treats an old TV set is a miracle.

A big plot hole that kinda kept nagging me throughout the movie: how could these island's inhabitants survive on an island for 10 years without ever contacting the mainland? After all, they aren't living in Medieval times so that they could create clothes, tools and everything else from wood, stone and leaves. In 10 years, batteries would run out, tools would break, and cars would burn through all of the gas. So, magically, the island lives as if it has all the modern resources like oil, metals, and basically the whole modern economy run in the background by something like 20-30 hillbillies + 1 drunk doctor. This doctor could prescribe only sleeping pills by the way, and those are still okay to take after 10 years. Or the pills just magically manifested themselves because well, it's a supernatural drama. And to light up the town, you don't need a power plant. It's just enough to find an electric cable lying on the road with sparks in it.

I was happy when the girl finally left the island - and that's where the movie had to end. Turn off your brain and enjoy the ride!

Well the idea was there, so that's something positive, the execution was poor though. It was a promising idea, the kind where you can go all kind of directions with, but they managed to make a story with a lot of stupid decisions, creating problems where there should be none. I mean the kid knows she has special abilities so why just not ask the kid for a favour instead of coming with the most stupid plans? It's just annoying to follow as a story, add to that that they dragged it out, a too slow pace and you get an average movie. But it's worth a watch for the okay cinematography and good acting from the entire cast. Would I watch it again in the future? No.

This is an unusual movie but mostly a good one. It's a slow burn and may not be for those who desire more action, but if you enjoy thought provoking ethical dilemmas, then this is a movie for you.

Basically, a magical kid shows up to a remote island and turns the small community upside down. It is beautifully shot and well acted. I wouldn't call it a horror movie, but it has a creepy vibe. Events happen that alter the dynamic of the kid in relation to the others on the island. Perhaps a bit more could have been done with the premise, as it feels like they are stretching the story a little too much with some dull filler scenes to pad the 100ish minutes running time.

It's not a great movie but it is good, and it's different than much of the typical movie fare that is released nowadays. I enjoyed it for the most part, and it's currently free to stream on Tubi, so you might as well give it a try if you are even remotely interested.

A strong supernatural element, but not a religious element. An unusual movie about an unusual community off the coast of Newfoundland. My wife and I enjoyed it however it is not a movie I would like to watch again. Streaming on Prime.

There isn't much backstory but a modest sized group of families decided some time back that they would isolate themselves on a small island away from the mainland. They would have no contact with people on the mainland, none of them would travel to the mainland, no radio or TV. As one 10-yr-old asked, "Do they speak like we do on the mainland?"

(While the story is completely different I thought of the year 2000 movie "The Beach" where a group wanting to escape from society and the modern world formed their community on an isolated island and only had limited contact, mainly for supplies, with the mainland.)

This community has made themselves self-sufficient, there is a school, a medic, fishermen catch enough Cod to dry and salt it away for the winter. One passing comment, "Seems you are drinking the whiskey as fast as you make it", indicates they have some sort of crops that can be fermented and distilled.

Anyway, with that as background the movie starts with a man hearing the faint cry of a baby at water's edge. He and the others go and find an overturned boat, inside they find a newborn girl, they have no idea where it came from. But right away the rescuer sees his arm wound heal right away when he came into contact with the baby.

And that is the thrust of the story. The man and his wife adopt the baby and name her Isla. The story quickly cuts to about 10 years later, we see a quick scene where island people are lined up outside the home of Isla, for healings of various sorts, including face wounds from a fight or the hangover from too much whiskey.

In essence, they recognized the supernatural power of being in her presence and were treating it as a toy, Isla didn't mind, it was all she had ever known and perhaps assumed this sort of thing is common "on the mainland." People also noticed that her parents didn't seem to age since Isla arrived.

That is all set up pretty early in the movie and there wouldn't be much story-telling tension if everything remained in order. But it doesn't, some want to rebel and get off the island, some want Isla to be used in ways that may not be ethical, tension grows to the point where it becomes a crisis and things develop in a way no one could have foreseen.

It is a very interesting movie of an interesting concept, a fable of sorts.

Synopsis: three generations have chosen isolation on a Newfoundland coast island to avoid mainland present day, but an infant seemingly born of the sea brings the settlement a unique gift of healing powers. An unexpected death among the settlers brings tension among the group, and the gifted child Isla, is suddenly without her healing powers. Isla must now be protected by her adoptive father, Bobby (Clayne Crawford of Lethal Weapon tv series, the Channel, Integrity of Joseph Chambers) and he comes to the harsh and heartbreaking reality that leaving the group is soon his daughter's best hope. The group, however, has other plans, and the worst of humanity ensues: neighbor against neighbor, family against family, friends against friends, and just who will survive and why becomes the question on everyone's mind.

Note: I must say that films like this always give you clues throughout, and I shouldn't have been so shocked, but I became so engrossed in the film and the characters that it really did make me gasp! The elements of creating a successful film came together: the story, script, director, editor, soundtrack, actors and more created an experience of simplicity in story, but complexity and tension in its evolution. It's eerie-creepy good!

This was just perfect, like a good Alex Garland film.

Acting and dialogue was on point.

Cinematography was great.

Plot was just amazing. Like a really good Amazing Stories or Outer Limits story.

I loved how well the movie introduced the characters, how perfectly the pace moved. The exposure of the catalysts opened up with class, I was never too sure where this was going and was so thrilled to experience that.

The choice of location gave a strong sense of mysticism, I'm not aware of any stories like this coming from island communities in Canada but it was easily acceptable as a vehicle without scrutiny.

It certainly made it seem more believable due to how remote these places are.

I've been dying to see something like this for so long.

Thank you!

I watched this movie because it was highly recommended by Red Letter Media. I have since unsubbed from that channel. What a bunch of garbage. Mike and Jay were fellating each other over the atmosphere and the cinematography and the slow burn pacing and on and on. Everything they loved was complete projection, because absolutely nothing happens. There's no gore, no scares, no intrigue, no mystery no nothing. The only event that could vaguely be considered supernatural happens at the finale and it has to be the most underwhelming climax I've ever experienced. People who liked this are just excited by the novelty of it since it doesn't have the usual tropes and parlor tricks that are present in every other horror movie. That would be great if it weren't for the fact that all the originality is in service of nothing. The characters are bland, everything is so understated that it amounts to one giant ho-hum. If this is the alternative to slasher franchises then I say bring on the chainsaws and machetes.

This is the sort of movie that flies under the radar but deserves a lot more credit. It is well written, put together, feels cohesive and acted well.

The story line is a little far fetched but it's done in a way that doesn't make you think it is. Everyone plays their part well and it's a thoroughly enjoyable cinematic experience.

It's has highs and lows, but it transports you to what is happening in the screen which is the true art of cinema if you ask me.

I am trying really hard not to give anything away as it's way more enjoyable if you just let it happen.

The majority of the cast aren't massive actors but they are brilliant in it. I will definitely watch this again.

That's what we deserves far higher ratings than some of them that are being given. From the very first moment I was enamored by this movie. The the premise is unique and the plot fresh and fun. The acting is realistic and deep. Throughout the film it combined fantasy with realism, life with death, and never had to provide the audience with answers to the plot. You are left to understand it and interpret it on your own. For an inexpensive movie with a cast of 33 people, this was a refreshing break from a lot of the movies out there now. I highly suggest and recommend this film. It's a great film for a date night and certainly passes as a good Friday night mystery for a more mature family.

I must say, by the time this movie ended, my mouth was agape! Very clever and unexpected.

The whole setting was so isolated and a bit creepy. After they find Isla, it gets very interesting and you do get attached to some of the characters.

Life seems so simple and uncomplicated and I wonder if life might be enjoyable without the internet and TV and cell phones and what not. I doubt I could do it, but it's fascinating to watch the way these townsfolk live. Of course, a bunch of different things happen and life starts to get more complicated for these folks. I won't spoil anything, but I was left with a few questions that I wish could have been answered. Nonetheless, by the time the end rolls around, you'll be very pleased that you chose this movie and it will stick with you for a while.