September Says creates an unsettling world around two inseparable sisters. Ariane Labed's feature debut, based on Daisy Johnson's Sisters, finds its threat in psychology rather than conventional horror devices.
After an incident at school, September and July move with their mother Sheela to an isolated Irish house. Their closeness is mixed with power and manipulation. September's controlling game, a darker version of Simon Says, pushes July toward damaging behavior. Dependence and memories make the house feel increasingly imprisoning.
Labed's quiet, observant direction keeps tension beneath the surface. Static shots, muted colors and sparse light emphasize isolation. The wide landscape offers little emotional escape from the confined relationships.
Pascale Kann and Mia Tharia convey the sisters' combination of tenderness and threat convincingly. Rakhee Thakrar gives their mother a place in that strained chamber drama, trying to reach daughters whose shared world excludes her.
Subtle musical accents and ordinary sounds—a creaking floor, the distant sea—often do more than a loud shock could. The danger develops gradually and remains difficult to pin down.
Some scenes become too symbolic, and certain turns are foreseeable. The ending favors mood over clear answers, which may frustrate viewers. For me, the film remains intense and disturbing: an atmospheric portrait of a bond whose intimacy has become unsafe.