Wonder Watchlist

Debuting at the Atlantic International Film Festival (AIFF) this year are two distinctly different films that are Atlantic-made. Hangashore, directed by award-winning director Justin Oakey, leverages the emotional depths of those lost at sea. In contrast, Blueberry Grunt, helmed by the talented director Sherry White, offers a unique blend of humor and heartfelt moments. These two East Coast films display the beauty of the region through their visuals and stories. Where one film shines with its script, the other excels for it in its performances, making both films leave a lasting impact at AIFF.

Let’s break them down below to explore these unique films beyond their surface.

Hangashore (2025), Dir. Justin Oakey

Synopsis: “An artist chases the ghost of her father to the remote island of Newfoundland.”

Written & Directed by: Justin Oakey

Starring: Hera Hilmar, James Frenchville, and Stephen Oates

This one took me by total surprise, as Hangashore goes on the darker it becomes. What starts as fever-like nightmares that seem all too real to Vera (Hera Hilmar). She feels a calling to the sea for as long as she can remember, which makes sense when her father turns out to be some sort of seaman. Since his passing, she’s felt the need to go to the sea and follow in his footsteps to see what his life away from their family was like. Reliving his memories and literally walking the same paths he did once before, Justin Oakey, who directs this film with confidence, shows how far a daughter will go to connect with her father one last time; it’s moving to say the least.

Hilmar’s performance has a duality to it; she’s quiet and reserved while trying not to attract attention at a small cafe near a marina, but she displays a levelheaded attitude when it comes to her journey. She’s sure of what her nightmares are telling her, even when they get more and more cryptic, especially revolving around her newfound love Jack (James Frecheville). The film is at its best during the final act when everything starts to fall into place. Hilmar and Frecheville are magnetic together; their shared moments as a couple don’t last long, and the film gives you a sense that they know they are doomed lovers. Paired with a score that evokes an eerie and haunting atmosphere from the band Wolfagram, their moments linger long after the credits roll.

Hangashore is not only impressively acted, but the film is a feast for the eyes. A lot of the film takes place on a small rundown boat, but the chill of the water is felt even when it’s not seen. The water is a deep dark blue that stands out against the breaths of those on board. When the film’s conflict arises, the boat becomes its own character, malfunctioning left and right, creating a haunting atmosphere. Smoke and haze from the night air linger on deck when their situation becomes dire. Vera’s connection with her father is intense to watch, but it’s well worth the unease for a beautifully haunted experience.

Rating: 4/5

Blueberry Grunt (2025), Dir. Sherry White

Synopsis: “… follows a couple on their annual anniversary camping and blueberry-picking trip”

Written and Directed by: Sherry White

Starring: Liisa Repo-Martell, and Joel Thomas Hynes

While first pressing play on Blueberry Grunt, I wasn’t ready for one of the best marital disputes I’ve seen in a film. That will teach me to judge Sherry White’s films again before actually watching them. The film gives us a perspective on marriage that is equally understanding while also being upsetting. White introduces us to Vivian (Liisa Repo-Martell) and Harold (Joel Thomas Hynes) as they embark on a camping trip. With their car packed with supplies, buckets for blueberry picking and all. What appears to be a fun trip ahead quickly turns sour.

White, who not only directs the film but also writes it. She puts audiences through many twists and turns with Blueberry Grunt. Her film challenges both Vivian and Harold in ways that surprised me. Not only through their relationship but also through their own complex feelings as individuals. The purpose of their trip is to gather some blueberries for Vivian’s famous blueberry grunt dessert, but her husband’s need to be center stage often gets in the way. White writes Vivian as a woman who has shrunk herself to fit into her marriage. After several years of it, she is sick of it. On the other hand, Harold is a rockstar, or so he’d like you to think. He’s an aging man with an itch to go back on tour, even against his wife’s wishes.

Blueberry Grunt has a great blend of humor, with Harold often resorting to comedy to mask the pain felt from Vivian’s harsh words. Mixed with the intense emotion evoked from their marital conflicts, White balances it well, making the film rarely boring and keeping audiences on their toes. Most impressively from the film are the lead performances from Repo-Martell and Hynes. The film has a small cast, with the majority of the film falling on their shoulders to keep the momentum going. They share a scene that had me swallowing the lump in my throat that had begun to form from Repo-Martell’s portrayal of a fed-up woman and a blissfully unaware husband with Hynes, who plays his character as head over heels in love with himself and his wife. Even when White’s writing gets repetitive, the film’s performances pull the film along.

Rating: 3/5

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