The Sisterhood of Night (2015)

People are voting emotionally.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

I'm really surprised at all the above average reviews. It is slightly above average, but not as amazing or outstanding as the majority of the already existing reviews say. Obviously opinion is opinion, but this is a movie with a very specific demographic - young suburban teenage girls in the mid 2010's. One other reviewer said it would prove to be timeless which I completely disagree with due to the specific demographic. It comes off like a made for lifetime movie, but if I were rating it in that subcategory specifically, I would give it a nice good rating, which is why I'm saying now that it is above average, but only very slightly. The cinematography and acting are two of the aspects that bring it above average, but the screenplay itself is poorly executed. The plot does heavily draw from The Crucible, but it does have the aspect of the modern era to negate any theme of an outcast community. The timing is done really well in terms of the way that other girls come forward and also confess that they've been "initiated" with whatever that one individual's mind comes up with when it thinks of an unspoken secret, and the things that people come up with when they come forward is realistic, at least for America, heavily based in molestation. But then it throws in (spoiler) bullying and suicide in what feels like ten seconds and the fact that this movie did that, even though the movie itself was enjoyable in it's own way, makes me actually angry. That a film would just graze over teen suicide in script that's so heavily trying to nudge a shoulder in the face of a crying teen girl, is enraging to me. And the way that the bully/suicide is filmed in like a two scene sequence makes it even worse. It's so close to being right, too. (Big spoiler) A girl is bullied, lightly molested but molested nonetheless, has nobody to run to that she trusts after it happens, and kills herself. In this it's like an accident but statistically teen suicides are based on impulse, or a lack of impulse control having yet developed. It would have been better if she had done it intentionally because that's more realistically how that kind of tragedy happens. Maybe it was an accident because the film wanted to graze over overdosing, too, which would also be enraging for the same main reason of lack of focus. It should have just left this out of the script altogether, make a different movie or a short film, or make this film more heavily about it, but don't just throw it in there like that and then toss in a literal ribbon street dance of forgiveness at the end. Death, especially young death, or the way a young person feels at the moment of attempting suicide, should never be brushed in so lightly and then just forgotten like that. This film dramatized way too heavily on "the secret", which is why the timing of the other girls coming forward seems more realistic, even though that itself is actually flawed too because of the way the local and then national media just instantly flock to the town based off one teenager's unpopular blog. The aesthetic of the online world is extremely outdated. The attempts at sending a message subtly are done too forwardly, like the inward zoom of the girl's smile as her subscriber numbers climb. The way that her blog becomes a safe haven for girls who have survived real sexual assault is also just "what? ugh." Not because it exists, but because it's just lightly brushed in. There could be so much more exploration with the idea of an online safe haven like that with that specific purpose, and it would probably not be so easy to find and just smash in the headlines of a newspaper. I hated those shots, too. Where it just shows newspaper headlines being slammed down on top of each other, with certain quotes or excerpts underlined or highlighted. Also the narration over the film, like it's being half read from a diary and half read from a news interview, with some shots literally showing the characters being interviewed by a news crew, awful. Just awful. I do believe the majority of this film's flaws lie within the narrative aspect itself, all other aspects are what make it decent enough. The acting is half n' half. Some of the acting is done so well I forget they're acting, others are so bad that I can see them trying not to smile during an awkward scene that's supposed to be serious. I don't know, I'm going on for too long with this. Good movie for a film student, not so good as an overall film, though. This is my first time writing a review on here.

Okay so I am actually a guy (18 yrs old) reviewing this movie. I honestly really enjoyed this movie way more than I expected. I thought it would be more for teen girls and that I could not relate to it. However, upon watching it, I realize nothing could be further from the truth.Everything that happens in this movie is so realistic, which really adds to this movie. All the things the girls in the sisterhood struggle with are real life problems, like a mom going through cancer, never been kissed before etc etc. In reality I actually can relate most to lavinia as I have never had a girlfriend or been kissed and I know what the pain is like and the struggle of feeling u will never find true love.So anyway, I found this movie to also be a lot darker than I expected too, as it did not sugar coat things as some movies do. The harsh reality that we all have flaws and make mistakes really comes out, but it's done in a brilliant way. I love how u never know what exactly the sisterhood is until like 4/5 through the movie. U begin to get it when emily has trouble at the radio station, but I realized another clue was when she almost posted "I'm not the one u should be talking too." Emily and her lying about the sisterhood shows how much it can snowball if u lie. First the sisterhood is accused of acts, followed by a school counselor being fired and the eventual death of lavinia. Now onto the dark side of this movie. I was very shocked at the beginning when lavinia was in the chair and started moaning I began to think, what the hell? But eventually as it's later revealed it was her getting a tattoo. Also one scene which made me a bit uncomfortable was after lavinia read her mother's book on sex. I don't know if I'm accurate but I can imagine what lavinia was doing. Anyways enough of that part. The scandals were also rather dark, especially peeing on the Bible and girls confessing things done to them by the sisterhood. Really shows how lies can snowball. However I feel the very darkest part of this movie was when the made lavinia confess and made her touch herself. My heart literally broke for her, and I almost cried. She thought she finally found someone who loved her and then realized he didn't and worse still they freaking drugged her. This shows the twisted messed up world we live in and this does happen. U then see poor lavinia leave the party crying and can't sleep. Then unfortunately she is broken beyond everything and drug overdoses and ultimately dies. This honestly for me made me feel as though the movie was not 100% happy ending as a lot of movies are, and honestly I felt mixed at the end. The fact that a main character dies by overdose, plus the awful seen of her crying, literally made me want to cry. I honestly never cry for movies, but this brought me pretty damn close. Overall to wrap up this review, this is one of the best movies I've ever seen. All the actors and actresses are amazing, georgie henley does a phenomenal job, and it's cool to see her play such a different character from lucy of narnia. Also, though there is a lot of sadness in this movie and dark content, I believe that honestly makes it a better movie. I feel it's so realistic to modern culture and that things in this movie happen significantly more often than most people think. It does not hide everything or be politically correct in the content, it shows the dark side of society and just how messed up some people are. The scenery of the movie is beautiful and the illustration of burning secrets by fire adds even more depth to this movie. Overall 9/10, spectacular movie, I recommend not just girls to watch it, but guys too. Just understand there are some uncomfortable scenes, but nothing too insane.

This movie is amazing and it a MUST SEE! Young women today are bombarded by so many negative role models and messages and it is refreshing to watch a movie that EMPOWERS young women! This movie tells a story in a wonderful way while showing how important it is for young women to empower each other through the strength and courage of sisterhood! Women of all ages need to see this movie. I'd encourage mothers to see this movie with their teen-aged daughters. There is a lot that can be learned from this movie and it can and has sparked great conversation and unity among young women.It was an added bonus for me that the movie was filmed and the story takes place in a location that is just 15 minutes from my hometown! It was fun to see various locations that I visit on a regular basis.Kingston is a vivid, lovely city that certainly created a hometown feel and backdrop which added to the story itself. I know that all of us who shop/bank/live in and around Kingston NY were so grateful to have a movie produced here. There are many shop owners and store employees who had only wonderful things to say about the cast and production staff.

I didn't know what to expect when I first started watching the Sisterhood, and little did I know, I would be in for a surprisingly intriguing and emotional film. About halfway through, I thought it was just going to be another trashy movie, but I soon figured that would not be the case.As a teen myself, I would say the film was a very accurate showing of teens today. The script and acting felt very real, and the real concept of the Sisterhood sounds like something even I would want to join! (SPOILERS!) The confessions that the members of the group spill are realistic, sounding like things my friends and I would secretly think or do. Then there is the whole issue with Kara Hayward's Emily. A desperation for friends, or even more, followers on her blog, and a mind for revenge on an enemy prompts her to (SPOILERS AGAIN!) lie about what she sees at the 'cult' meetings in the woods. Again, something that would happen in real life. I can't recall another film, at least right now, with as accurate a portrayal of the emotions that occur to teens now. Among all of them, I think the best character was definitely Mary. She was tough, and would fiercely protect her friends and keep her secrets. (SPOILERS) And while she did seem like a straight up b**** sometimes, she isn't afraid to show her sensitive, emotional side when she wants to. All in all, a great movie that unexpectedly made me cry. Great acting from the girls, especially Georgie!