Thanks to writer & director Jennifer Kent, "The Murmuring" succeeds (for the most part) in its intentions to utilise horror in a meaningful way here, drawing parallels between the supernatural & the real in order to analyse how 2 people (both of whom have lost a child, one living, the other, not) are practically the same, incapable of coming to terms with their own grief (blaming themselves for the loss of their infant) & moving on from it - which has therefore ensnared either in an endlessly inescapable cycle of self imposed isolation. To see the concept of ghosts act as the motivation for the protagonist's progression (when she's confronted with a visualisation of what awaits her if she doesn't confront her feelings) is a masterstroke of an idea. Hence, it's a beautifully character driven narrative - for the series to end on as a whole - that subverts the audience's expectations by prioritising personal growth & development over cynicism & capitulating to the genre, featuring the usual clichés (that the rest of the series has so often relied upon).
Of course, it's far from perfect, as I am not entirely sold by either of the lead's unconvincing performances & cumulatively, the episode does admittedly feel a bit clunky throughout... But it's refreshing nonetheless to see a filmmaker boldly attempting to imbue depth in to their work & to her credit, she creates some brilliantly crafted moments of tension which are peppered throughout.
All in all, despite the apparent flaws, I'm able to look past the imperfections & appreciate the strengths here - as it's pleasant to find a story which has layers, as opposed to unchallenging superficiality.
Of course, it's far from perfect, as I am not entirely sold by either of the lead's unconvincing performances & cumulatively, the episode does admittedly feel a bit clunky throughout... But it's refreshing nonetheless to see a filmmaker boldly attempting to imbue depth in to their work & to her credit, she creates some brilliantly crafted moments of tension which are peppered throughout.
All in all, despite the apparent flaws, I'm able to look past the imperfections & appreciate the strengths here - as it's pleasant to find a story which has layers, as opposed to unchallenging superficiality.