The Moogai

"Terrific idea, patchy execution (...) What saves 'The Moogai' is its haunting final image" 

"Bell obviously has a lot of ideas on his mind, and he ably trojan horses the history of Aboriginal stolen children into the skin of a horror film. But I often found myself wishing that the surface details and genre requirements were as thought through as the meaning behind them" 

"Though Bell has broken some ground that renders this a novel watch, those looking for hair-raising horror or a salient social drama best lower expectations." 

"There is a very important story being told in 'The Moogai'. It’s just a shame that it isn’t given the proper attention it deserves, with Bell opting for cheap scares and surface-level observations instead of something richer (...) Rating: ★★½ (out of 5)" 

"Bell’s directorial debut lacks confidence or interest in being much of a horror movie, beyond squeezing everything unique and meaningful about its premise into a one-size-fits-all genre template." 

"The potent meaning and imagery behind Jon Bell’s tale of Aboriginal suffering fail to coalesce" 

" The film attempts to explore generational trauma but lacks the patience and thoughtfulness needed to reach the necessary emotional heights." 

"While 'The Moogai' may have its roots in Australia's Indigenous trauma, and tells a story which needs to be heard, it is ultimately undercut by the weight of its own earnest message"