Ishmael

A stark, slow meditation on guilt and power, shot in monochrome, that weighs heavily and rewards patience with uneasy moral tension.

Directed by

Louis Joblin

Genres

Fantasy, Drama

Starring

Roy Iro, Ralph Johnson, Anthony Ahern

Tagline

What madness would make you king?

Overview

In a place lost to history, soldiers are sent to cull a rebellion brought on by mass psychosis. Ishmael, the executioner, and Boethius, an officiating priest, have grown tired of this bloodwork. When they’re tasked with killing Absalom, a delusional pig farmer who believes himself the royal heir, the two must make a decision; to execute him or to encourage his delusion. A path that could either absolve them of guilt or leave all three dead.

How it feels

Bleak, dark, melancholic and tense. Slow-burning and demanding.

About

Guilt, madness, morality, power

Content

Mild violence, gore and language. No sexual content.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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Watch the trailer on YouTube (opens in a new tab)