Thou Wast Mild and Lovely

Thou Wast Mild and Lovely is a 2014 American film directed by Josephine Decker. The movie is a slow-burning and suspenseful tale set in a remote farmhouse in the countryside, where a young woman named Sarah takes up a job of helping out with the farm's livestock. Her employer is a lonely farmer, Akin, who lives with his daughter, whom Sarah takes to calling "the brat."

Sarah is an enigmatic character who is portrayed as anxious and awkwardly introverted. She keeps to herself mostly and spends her time doing her job, meditating, and enjoying the fresh air and tranquility of the farm. Meanwhile, Akin is a peculiar character with many secrets. He is a middle-aged man who harbors an irrational affection for his daughter, and his interactions with Sarah keep getting progressively more inappropriate. As they spend more time together, their relationship transitions from employer-employee to something more sinister.

One of the movie's strongest points is its visuals. Every scene is shot in a way that accentuates the use of nature in expressing mood, characterization, and plot. The lush greenery, the rolling hills, the play of light, and the almost surreal use of colors all serve to create a charmingly pastoral image that contrasts with the ugly and depraved nature of the main characters' actions. The rural idyll belies the violence and darkness that simmer beneath the surface.

The movie's plot is a slowly unravelling mystery. It is a story that relies heavily on atmospherics as it draws you in with the eerily quiet surroundings and keeps you guessing about what secrets the main characters might be hiding. The story's progression is sluggish, and it takes a while for the movie's central conceit to emerge. The payoff is worth it, though, as the story becomes more intense, and the tension builds towards a cathartic climax.

The acting in Thou Wast Mild and Lovely is superb. Sophie Traub is fantastic as the enigmatic and introverted Sarah. Her portrayal of the character makes it clear that Sarah is a woman who has been worn down by life's trials and is haunted by her past. Robert Longstreet is equally impressive as Akin, portraying a man driven by his obsessions and desires, whose intentions are questionable, but whose motives are always clear. Joe Swanberg plays the role of Sarah's boyfriend, a man who coincidentally shows up at the farm and whose presence disturbs the fragile balance of the three main characters.

Thou Wast Mild and Lovely's tone is somber, and the mood is deliberately bleak, but its characters are never dull. The movie deals with themes of loneliness, desire, and human complexity, and it does so without ever feeling preachy or resorting to over-explaining what is going on. The story is told in a dreamy, almost surreal way, and it leaves room for interpretation and reflection.

Despite its few flaws (including a slow pace and a somewhat predictable ending), Thou Wast Mild and Lovely is an excellent movie with absorbing visuals, top-notch performances, and a marvellously understated story. It is a movie that unfolds slowly and intimately, offering an immersive experience that makes you feel like you are a part of the story. It is a deeply unnerving and surprisingly engaging cinematic achievement, proving that sometimes the best horror movie is one that is subtle and understated.