REVIEW: Our Happy Place | 33rd Raindance Film Festival
- Jenna Cockburn
- Jul 2
- 2 min read
"smart, atmospheric, and emotionally resonant."
A Chilling Journey Into Isolation and the Mind
Our Happy Place made a strong impression at its International Premiere at Raindance Film Festival, delivering a psychological horror that’s as haunting as it is thought-provoking.
Trapped in More Ways Than One
Set during the pandemic lockdown, the film follows Raya, a devoted caregiver to her bedridden husband in a remote cabin. But Raya’s reality quickly unravels as she begins sleepwalking into the surrounding woods - waking up in freshly dug graves. The tension builds not just from the setting but from the claustrophobia of her mind’s slow collapse.
Haunting Dreams and Dark Secrets
This is a story that blurs the lines between nightmare and reality. Raya’s recurring visions of missing women and her unsettling nocturnal wanderings create an eerie atmosphere charged with mystery and dread. It’s a deep dive into trauma, guilt, and the fragility of the human psyche.
Performances That Anchor the Unease
Raya Miles delivers a compelling and vulnerable lead performance, capturing the emotional strain of her character with subtlety. Paul Bickel, who also directs, embodies the role of the incapacitated husband with quiet intensity, creating a powerful dynamic. The supporting cast adds just enough to enrich the narrative without distracting.
Atmosphere Over Shock
Rather than relying on conventional scares, Our Happy Place opts for slow-building suspense and intimate cinematography. The minimalist approach to effects and setting heightens the psychological tension, making every shadow and silence count.
A Must-See for Psychological Horror Fans
If you’re after a horror film that lingers in your mind long after watching, Our Happy Place is well worth your time. It’s smart, unsettling, and captures the unique anxieties of isolation with striking authenticity.
Our Happy Place delivers a gripping psychological horror experience that’s smart, atmospheric, and emotionally resonant. A few pacing moments slow the story down, but the strong performances and haunting story more than make up for it.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
International Premiere at the 33rd Raindance Film Festival 20th - 21st June 2025.
FILM DETAILS
International Premiere: 20th June 2025
TL;DR: Raya, a lonely woman caring for her bedridden husband, is haunted by terrifying nightmares. She wakes up each morning in the forest, falling deeper into freshly dug graves beneath her. As supernatural forces torment her and the line between dream and reality collapses, she unearths a horrifying secret buried within the woods - and herself.
Director: Paul Bickel
Cast: Raya Miles, Paul Bickel, Tracie Thoms, Eugene Byrd, Allyson Fasso
Genres: Horror
Run time: 89 Minutes
Cert: -
