What Josiah Saw is a 2021 American Southern Gothic psychological horror drama film directed by Vincent Grashaw. The film follows members of a damaged family before they reunite at their remote farmhouse, where they will confront long-buried secrets and sins of the past.
![]() | This article needs a plot summary. (August 2021) |
What Josiah Saw | |
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Directed by | Vincent Grashaw |
Written by | Robert Alan Dilts |
Produced by |
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Starring |
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Cinematography | Carlos Ritter |
Edited by | Vincent Grashaw |
Music by | Robert Pycior |
Production company | Randomix Productions |
Distributed by | Shudder |
Release dates |
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Running time | 120 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
In December 2019, it was announced that filming wrapped in Oklahoma.[1][2]
The film made its world premiere at the Fantasia International Film Festival on August 13, 2021.[3]
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 90% of 42 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.30/10. The website's consensus reads, "What Josiah Saw may be too unrelentingly unpleasant for some viewers, but this slow-burning look at generational trauma leaves a lingering, nightmarish impact."[4]
Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com gave the film a positive review and wrote that the film "is unapologetically brutal, the kind of haunting drama that feels unsettling and dangerous even in its quiet, character-driven moments."[5] Andrew Mack of Screen Anarchy also gave the film a positive review and wrote, "Robert Patrick is an absolute force to be reckoned with."[6] Michelle Swope of Dread Central awarded the film four and a half stars out of five and wrote, "Masterful storytelling, spectacular performances, and an overwhelming atmosphere of dread make What Josiah Saw brilliantly agonizing psychological horror."[7] Bobby LePire of Film Threat gave the film a 10 out of 10 and wrote that it "examines religion, trauma, grief, sanity, and familial bonds in a truly unique way."[8]
Katie Rife of The A.V. Club gave the film a negative review and wrote that "the writer-director piles deviancy on top of taboo until your trauma receptors go numb."[9]