Lost Heart

Lost Heart (2020) is a poignant, supernatural drama written by Joshua James Mathews and directed by Jesse Low. The film stars Melissa Anschutz, Don Most, and Victoria Jackson, with a brilliant supporting cast that lends emotional depth to the poignant storyline. The film blends elements of family drama, spirituality, and science-fiction fantasy, creating an emotionally gripping rollercoaster ride that will leave audiences profoundly moved.

Lost Heart, set in a small rural town in Northern Michigan, is centered around Hannah Sweet (Melissa Anschutz), a washed-up, broken music star with a history of alcoholism and failed relationships. Hannah, who has been estranged from her family for many years, is reluctantly compelled to return to her home town following the mysteriously suspicious death of her peculiar and eccentric father, Pastor Ted Sweet (Don Most). The film takes us through Hannah's heart-wrenching journey as she explores the unresolved shadows of her past and seeks meaning amidst loss and despair.

Upon her return, Hannah confronts the broken and unhealed relationships in her life. She reencounters her old acquaintance, the self-proclaimed UFOlogist Hunter Carl (portrayed by Don Most). She also reunites with her long lost-adoptive sister, Milly (Victoria Jackson), who harbors deep secrets herself. As the past unfolds, Hannah realizes that her father's death may not be as straightforward as it appears. Pastor Ted's strange accounts of local alien sightings are revealed, intertwining Hannah's grief with scientific curiosity. The town is filled with various eerie legends and folk tales that further deepen the otherworldly elements of the narrative.

Melissa Anschutz delivers a powerful performance as Hannah Sweet, evoking a sense of relatability with her complex portrayal of a conflicted and tortured soul. Don Most seamlessly transitions into the role of the enigmatic pastor with a talent for bringing out the eccentricities of his character. Victoria Jackson, as Milly, complements the movie's fabric with her multifaceted acting skills. It's the chemistry of the cast that effectively showcases the dense emotional fabric of their shared histories and personal traumas.

The cinematography of the film visually captures the tragic beauty of the plot with panoramic shots of Northern Michigan’s lush landscape and the serene, hauntingly beautiful surroundings of the small town. The film's soundtrack also deserves an honorable mention, which includes a beautifully haunting theme song that redefines the emotional significations throughout the storyline and provides a further layer of depth to the character’s personal evolutions and emotional shifts.

Lost Heart goes beyond being a simple supernatural mystery or family drama. At its core, it is an exploration of the human condition - a poignant dialogue about love, loss, forgiveness, and healing. With the undercurrents of sci-fi aspects, Lost Heart challenges typical genre boundaries, grounding fantasy elements in the daily reality of life in a small town. It's an emotionally gripping cinematic journey that brushes on societal marginalization, spirituality, and the struggle for redemption.

The writing explores spirituality and philosophy with an interesting take, blending it with science and the mysteries of the universe. It uses the supernatural to highlight poignant realities of the human experience. Director Jesse Low does a masterful job of melding emotional family narrative, humor, speculative elements, and spiritual undertones to create a dish full of suspense, warmth and luminescence.

Lost Heart is, at times, hauntingly somber and deeply emotional, providing a reflective gaze into the inner workings of family dynamics, the struggle of substance abuse, and the pursuit of personal salvation. It is also more than that. It pushes its narrative to explore the promise of the uncharted specifically through the windows of the after-life and extra-terrestrial life forms.

Lost Heart is a touching film that invites viewers to embark on an introspective journey of self-discovery and healing, haunted by images of spiritual hope and the vastness of the cosmos. The movie continues to gain positive critical acclaim for its compassionate storytelling and remarkable performances. For those seeking a thought-provoking, emotional journey with a touch of the extraordinary, Lost Heart comes highly recommended.