Carly May Borgstrom’s first film, Spirit in the Blood, is a mix of messiness and charm. It’s a psychological horror thriller that tries to bring something fresh to the genre. At the beginning, it’s a bit unclear whether the story focuses more on a cult-like community or the effects of broken families on teenagers. However, as the film progresses, Borgstrom finds her voice and sticks to it. The standout performance comes from Summer H. Howell, who plays the shy teen, Emerson Grimm. Despite a few hiccups, Spirit in the Blood is an enjoyable, visually striking, feminist horror film.
What Happens When the Grimm Family Moves to a New Town?
The story begins when the Grimm family relocates to a suburban town in Canada. Julian, Emerson’s father, grew up in this small community. After years away, he feels it’s time to return. The church community there is tight-knit, with everyone respecting the guidance of Pastor Carl. Unfortunately, Emerson is not a fan of her new home or its people. She struggles to adjust, preferring to spend her time alone, listening to music and reading comic books. Julian often feels frustrated with her, even leaving her by the roadside one day when he is upset. On that same morning, Emerson sees something strange—a monster—but when she tells her dad about it, he doesn’t believe her.
How Does Emerson Cope with Bullying at School?
Emerson appears younger than her actual age, making her an easy target for school bullies. On her first day in the new school, she hides in the bushes to escape the kids making fun of her. Fortunately, Delilah Soliel notices her and feels sympathy for her plight. Delilah, who has faced her own share of ridicule, is wise beyond her years and refuses to conform to the rules imposed by the school. The town looks down on Delilah and her single mother for breaking traditional Christian values.
What Is the Special Connection Between Emerson and Delilah?
When Emerson and Delilah meet, Emerson is immediately drawn to her. Delilah is everything Emerson is not—outgoing, confident, and fun. Unlike other kids, Delilah finds Emerson’s wild ideas interesting, which helps Emerson trust her. Delilah also shares her concern about her friend Rebecca, who recently went missing. Emerson fears that the monster she saw in the forest is responsible for Rebecca’s disappearance. This fear resonates deeply with her, as she remembers feeling vulnerable that day.
How Do Emerson and Delilah Explore the Concept of Dark Spirits?
One day, Delilah jokingly mentions that her “bad” side lives in the forest cave. Emerson suggests that Delilah sounds like a Scythian, who believed that everyone has a hidden dark spirit that can be summoned for strength. However, it’s dangerous to let that spirit out for too long, as it feeds on blood. Delilah becomes fascinated by this idea, and when they realize the townspeople won’t listen to them, they decide to unleash their dark spirits.
Emerson only knows about the ritual from books, but they feel an adrenaline rush during the blood ritual. Whether it’s real or just in their heads, they convince themselves that they have gained new powers. Now they can do things they wouldn’t normally dare to do, blaming any bad choices on their dark spirits.
How Do More Girls Get Involved in the Ritual?
As Emerson and Delilah share their experience, more girls come forward claiming to have seen the monster. They all confide in Emerson and Delilah, knowing they will be believed. New friends Abby, Baby, and Rachael join them in the ritual, experiencing the same strange energy that fills them with confidence. For the first time, the girls feel empowered, rejecting the notion that they must be helpless. They start to embrace their “bad” sides, taking pride in breaking societal norms.
What Complicates Emerson and Delilah’s Friendship?
Delilah is Emerson’s best friend, but Emerson often feels a twinge of jealousy. She worries about Delilah’s connections with boys and overhears classmates gossiping about Delilah’s romantic escapades. Despite this, Emerson admires Delilah’s wild side. She notices Delilah flirting with her mother’s boyfriend, Frank, which makes her uncomfortable. Their friendship is special, and Emerson struggles with the idea of Delilah being with someone else.
What Happens When Tragedy Strikes?
The turning point occurs when Emerson learns that a cougar has been killed and it was blamed for Rebecca’s death. She decides to bury their dark spirit, wanting to protect Delilah from any harm. Emerson tells Delilah her plan, but Delilah refuses to give up on their mission. She believes in the monster and is determined to continue their quest. Emerson confronts Delilah about Frank, arguing that it’s inappropriate for a man to be interested in a minor, but Delilah dismisses her concerns, craving love and attention.
Both girls come from dysfunctional homes, with Delilah’s mother often drunk and Emerson’s father being domineering. Their shared experiences help them bond, but things start to unravel when Emerson feels hurt by Delilah’s comments about envy.
How Does the Church Respond to the Girls’ Actions?
Tragedy strikes again when Baby becomes the monster’s next victim. Following the incident, the pastor suspects that the girls are involved. Abby, overwhelmed with guilt, breaks her silence and admits to the pastor about their ritual, hoping it will save her. She paints a picture of being forced into it, while Rachael joins her in blaming Delilah and Emerson. Feeling humiliated, Emerson is overwhelmed by the turn of events. However, Delilah defends her friend and takes the blame herself.
What Happens to Delilah at the End of the Film?
In the film’s climax, the pastor decides to send Delilah to a mental institution. Desperate, Delilah pleads for Emerson’s help, but Emerson is too scared to act. She never imagined their innocent quest for bravery would lead them to such trouble. Regretful and anxious, Emerson tries to reach Delilah via walkie-talkie, suggesting they run away together. Delilah has always dreamed of leaving the town, and now Emerson feels the same.
The pastor belittles their efforts, insisting they are just girls meant to stay safe at home. But Emerson is tired of living under rules and dreams of escaping with Delilah.
What Final Encounter Occurs in the Forest?
In the film’s final moments, Emerson walks to the forest cave to bury her dark spirit. She waits for Delilah but ultimately decides to do it alone when her friend doesn’t show. Suddenly, she hears rustling in the bushes and realizes the “monster” is actually a man in a costume. This revelation hits hard, especially since this man is one of the volunteers tasked with protecting women in the town. The true predator has been hiding in plain sight, demonstrating that the men meant to safeguard them could actually be the danger.
How Do Emerson and Delilah Fight Back?
The man tries to attack Emerson, but just as he begins to choke her, Delilah arrives and strikes him with a stone. Although Emerson is still unconscious, she regains her senses just in time to save Delilah. Armed with a knife and recalling her father’s technique for killing a cougar, Emerson stabs the man multiple times, eliminating the predator.
Together, they discover their strength. They realize that as long as they have each other, they can face any challenge. In the end, they hold hands while biking away, contemplating their future. They can either return home and expose the truth about the men in their town or leave everything behind and explore the world. They know that together, they can overcome anything, feeling empowered and liberated as they ride away from their past.