The Scald-Crow

Daly’s strong debut uses a classic haunted house story to probe themes of chronic illness, religious trauma, and queer desire. Brigid, a young woman suffering from debilitating and undiagnosed chronic pain, sets about cleaning out her family home following the mysterious disappearance of her estranged mother. Brigid’s memories of her mother’s abuse, coupled with the resurfacing of childhood fears, cause reality to blur as a series of inexplicable and possibly supernatural events occurs within the house. Brigid is plagued by nightmares, a crow follows her around, and everyday objects are replaced by severed body parts. As the haunting ramps up, so does Brigid’s resolve to face her ghosts head on, exorcise her demons, confess her feelings to the woman she loves, and claim control over her own life. Daly’s description of female pain and how it is treated (or ignored) by doctors is unflinching and refreshing. Though the pacing feels a little wobbly at times, with a slow setup and a somewhat rushed conclusion as Daly attempts to juggle myriad themes, the ghostly imagery of the haunting is wonderfully eerie, complete with several effective jump scares. It’s a memorable first outing. (Oct.)