Immanence: Dread-Filled but Lacks Meaningful Payoff

The opening shot of Immanence lingers on the vast, undulating surface of the ocean, a black expanse broken only by the faint glow of distant stars. It’s an image that promises mystery, perhaps even cosmic revelation—but Kerry Bellessa’s 2022 horror-thriller-drama-sci-fi amalgam quickly reveals itself to be more interested in drowning its audience in existential dread than delivering any meaningful payoff.

The film follows a team of radio astronomers—Jonah (Michael Beach), Guy (Jamie McShane), Davis (Eugene Byrd), and others—who detect a mysterious signal emanating from the deep sea. Their investigation leads them to rent a boat, venture into uncharted waters, and confront something far more terrifying than they anticipated. The premise is ripe with potential: a low-budget Event Horizon or Left Behind, as one reviewer aptly noted, but Immanence squanders its intriguing setup in favor of meandering debates about faith, science, and the nature of evil.

What works, albeit sporadically, is the film’s eerie atmosphere. The sound design—particularly the unsettling hum of the mysterious signal—creates a palpable sense of unease. The performances are solid if unremarkable; Beach and McShane anchor the film with grounded portrayals of scientists grappling with the inexplicable. Summer Bellessa, as Naomi, delivers a standout moment when her character’s faith is tested in a scene that feels genuinely unsettling.

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But the film’s flaws are glaring. The pacing is glacial, particularly in the first act, which lingers on philosophical musings about immanence and transcendence without offering much narrative momentum. The script stumbles when it tries to blend horror with heavy-handed theological debates, resulting in moments that feel more like a seminary lecture than a thrilling descent into madness. The manifestations of evil—when they finally arrive—lack the visceral impact needed to justify the buildup.

Critics have been merciless. While those assessments feel hyperbolic, they’re not entirely unfounded. Immanence wants to be profound but settles for pretentiousness.

It’s a shame because the core idea—a team of scientists confronting an evil that defies their rational worldview—is compelling.

Tags: horror, Eugene Byrd, Immanence, Jamie McShane, Kerry Bellessa, Michael Beach

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