‘The Face of Horror’ Review: Kristine Froseth Sparkles, but Anna Biller’s Medieval Tale Can’t Stop Getting in Its Own Way

In her 2016 film The Love Witch , writer and director Anna Biller told the story of a modern-day witch driven by her desire for the kind of classical romance that fairy tales are made of. The film is adorned with musical and aesthetic touches that allude to an idealized past of knights, princesses, kings and queens. And in one pivotal scene, the heroine takes her lover to a renaissance fair that gives her a stage to play out her medieval-inspired fantasies.

Now, a decade later, Biller has returned with a film that takes place entirely in medieval times, primarily shot in and around the old castles and churches of Prague. The Face of Horror transports the classic Japanese ghost story “Yotsuya Kaidan” to 14th-century England, with a vibrant color palette, all captured on stunning 35mm film. Related Stories Movies 'Masc' Review: A Neurodivergent Gay Man Navigates the World in a Striking and Distinctive Debut Feature Movies 'The Betrayers' Director Talks Navigating Political, Personal Treachery in Crimea-Set Thriller The Face of Horror The Bottom Line A lovely-looking letdown. Venue: Toronto International Film Festival (Midnight Madness) Cast: Jonah Hauer-King, Kristine Froseth, Ellie Bamber, Leo Suter, Ben Radcliffe, Bella Heathcote, Perdita Weeks, Clare Calbraith, Edward Franklin, John Sackville, Steven Blake Director/Writer: Anna Biller 1 hour 59 minutes

The gorgeous, young Eleanor (Kristine Froseth) lives with her father, sister and brother-in-law on a comfortable farm estate. Up in her room, she spends her free hours looking into a golden mirror and pining for the knight she loves. She’s young and naive, vain yet good-hearted. Her sister Beatrice (Ellie Bamber) is just as beautiful, but more thoughtful and practical.

Their lives are radically altered when unemployed, duplicitous knight Edward (Jonah Hauer-King) kills their father after he refuses to give Eleanor’s hand in marriage. When his friend Richard (Leo Suter) slays Beatrice’s husband as well, the two come up with a scheme to marry the sisters and take over their property. Even though the sisters are warned their marriages are cursed, the fear of living without the protection of men convinces them its their only option. Still, they try to romanticize their sad compromise, deluding themselves into believing their spouses are noble and true.

A year into her marriage, Eleanor is an exhausted mother tending to her infant son while her husband leaves her alone in the day and ignores her emotions at night. Beatrice has consistently refused to share her marital bed with Richard, saying she will only sleep with him if he avenges the death of her father and late husband. Both Edward and Richard made this promise when they proposed, conveniently withholding the fact that there are no other killers to find.

Bored with his beautiful wife and the weight of his lies, Edward longs for a way out, even as Richard continues to pine for Beatrice. When a wealthy, royal woman is attacked by bandits, the two men save her and are welcomed to the castle as valiant knights.