This Isn’t Just a Horror Movie—It’s a Reckoning: Why ‘Ancestral Beasts’ Will Haunt You

Horror films tend to depend on jump scares and supernatural creatures to frighten viewers. But what if the true horror is internalized—stemming from the wounds of trauma inherited over generations? That's the chilling premise of Ancestral Beasts, a forthcoming Canadian psychological horror film that's already making waves prior to its presentation at Cannes' Frontières program.

Directed by Métis director "Tim Riedel", "Ancestral Beasts" is not another horror movie. It's a very personal tale of mental illness, intergenerational trauma, and the battle for healing—all presented in a chilling horror package.

A Dazzling Indigenous Cast

The film has secured some amazing Indigenous talent:

- "Darla Contois" (Little Bird), off her Canadian Screen Award win for Best Actress.

- "Morgan Holmstrom" (The Order, Day of the Dead), a genre TV fan favorite.  

- "Asivak Koostachin" (Portraits from a Fire), recognized for his intense performances.  

There's still one significant role to cast—a non-Indigenous male actor aged over 55—which indicates the film will delve into complicated cultural dynamics.

The Story: When Trauma Takes Physical Form

Set in rural Canada, "Ancestral Beasts" follows a woman trying to rebuild her life after escaping a toxic relationship with her sister. She returns to her ancestral home, hoping for peace—but instead, she encounters something far worse.

A dark presence starts to take hold, drawing energy from her unresolved trauma. Is it a breakdown, or is something "actually" haunting her? The movie deconstructs the border between psychological horror and supernatural terror, compelling the protagonist to uncover her family's sinister past before it destroys her.

A Personal Project with a Powerful Message

Riedel isn't merely writing a horror movie—he's recounting a story torn from his own life.

His mother, a Red River Métis woman, was removed from her family during the Sixties Scoop, a dark time in Canadian history when Indigenous children were forcibly taken from their homes and put into abusive foster care. The trauma she experienced resulted in a "borderline personality disorder diagnosis" later in life.

"My reality was constructed by growing up in a house where one minute you're deeply loved, and the next, it all turns into chaos," Riedel explained. "My mom was a victim of her trauma, just as my siblings and I were. That disorder was like a creature, hiding in the background, waiting to strike."

So that's why he used horror as his genre.

I want audiences to 'feel' what it was like to grow up in that house," he said. "Horror allows me the vocabulary to express the irrational, the frightful, the stuff we don't discuss."

Authentic Storytelling with Cultural Care

In order to ensure that the film represented Indigenous experiences with respect, Riedel consulted extensively with 'Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and Indigenous psychologists' when developing scripts. His objective isn't only to frighten audiences—it's to 'trigger empathy' and 'decrease stigma' toward mental health challenges within Indigenous peoples. 

Why This Film Matters

Indigenous horror narratives remain a rare commodity, particularly in popular filmmaking. Horrors feature the majority of Indigenous roles as secondary characters or caricatures—viz., mystical advisers or fated victims. 'Ancestral Beasts' turns that equation on its head, placing 'Indigenous trauma, resilience, and healing' center stage.

It's one of a rising tide of 'Indigenous-led horror', after movies such as 'Blood Quantum' and 'Slash/Back'. But Riedel's doing things differently—he's employing horror as a 'cathartic tool', making viewers face uncomfortable realities while keeping them on the edge of their seats.

What's Next?

The feature is in final development stages, with financing due to close by summer 2025 and principal photography set for fall 2025. Canadian distributors are already expressing interest, and international sales negotiations will intensify at Cannes' Marché du Film (May 17-18).

If everything goes according to plan, 'Ancestral Beasts' might be one of the most discussed horror movies of the coming years—not only for its frights, but for its 'raw, emotional depth'.

Final Thoughts

Horror has always been used as a means of coping with fear. But in 'Ancestral Beasts', fear doesn't mean ghosts or monsters—'the scars we inherit', the hurt we bear, and the struggle to escape.

This isn't merely a movie. It's a "reckoning"

What do you think? Are you looking forward to 'Ancestral Beasts'? Let me know in the comments!