The Other Lamb Explained

The Other Lamb film comes from IFC Films after enjoying a stint at film festivals, starting with TIFF in 2019. I am someone who seldom watches trailers but let me tell you the teaser provided gives the impression that this cult horror movie could perhaps be a fast-moving film with plenty of killing. And while The Other Lamb trailer doesn’t give the ending away, horror hounds who love a straightforward narrative will not find that here. But a good place to start if you need an explanation for The Other Lamb is right here on Mother of Movies.

The Other Lamb Movie

Compared with anything you might have seen with Charles Manson, The Other Lamb movie is a cult leader and fock-centric story. Its director Malgorzata Szumowska and writer Catherine S. McMullen chose to tell a remarkably chilling version of the inner workings of power through the eyes of a cult. It’s a slow burn. There are times when The Other Lamb movie is full of imagery and flash-forwards. There’s also a tonne of biblical and humanitarian accents. It’s a film that has a lot to say.

After first watching this title I simply didn’t understand the ending of The Other Lamb. There isn’t a lot of dialogue included to fill in the blanks. I felt like I needed someone to tell me what on earth was going on with the flock of lambs. These animals seemed important and I simply wasn’t getting the connection to the bigger picture. I was disappointed in myself because initially, I couldn’t explain The Other Lamb or its powerful conclusion.

The Plot For The Other Lamb

The story follows Selah, just one of many daughters in the group. Daughters wear blue and wives wear red. There are lots of rules, promises, and affirmations in the forest. Selah is played by Raffey Cassidy and her transformational journey throughout the 97-minute cinematic eyeful is what kept me in the loop. She begins almost like background noise. I’m sure most will have their eyes glued to watching the group leader, Shepherd as he frolics and revels in the adoring gaze of his girls. Michiel Huisman renders the role of an enigmatic cult leader with all the charm of a wolf about to eat its flock. He takes joy in many things and banishes the unfaithful labeling them ‘broken things.’

Instead of The Other Lamb official trailer (which you can see here instead), I’ve got a clip that shows you exactly what I’m talking about. The face of adoring young ladies. How one man’s power can be the epitome of someone else’s universe.

The Other Lamb Teaser Trailer

The Other Lamb Ending Explained

Perhaps I didn’t understand this film at first, but I quickly caught up with the film’s message. There are bountiful qualified and excellent cast featured in The Other Lamb but I was transfixed on Selah. A small part of her narrative gives rise to a coming-of-age scenario. It envelopes this innocent girl who has grown into who she is in the sheltered universe of this sect. Her mother died in it and she awaits her time to become one of the wives with all the enthusiasm of a kid in a candy store. She gazes lovingly at her leader knowing and confident that she is special because of him. After a slow and steady first quarter, I can’t quite explain the chill that began to rise as the story shows its true colors.

The Shepherd has instilled all the values of everything uncomfortable and icky in society and taught them to this multi-generational group. In one pivotal scene, Selah is no longer gazing with adoration. It’s in this one moment the shift in tone decides it no longer wants to toy with us. The cinematography is razor-sharp. The attention paid to the impact of a simple shot of Selah in the background, at the forefront, or within the group tells you everything you need to know. Her positioning in the shot relays the message of where she stands in her family.

How Scary is The Other Lamb?

If you are worried about scary imagery and watching a movie that might give you nightmares, you are safe with The Other Lamb. Instead of being the typical straightforward jump-scare or monsters under the bed, this is a storyline that is instead under the subgenre of psychological horror movies. The aim of the film overall is to be invested in the character’s state of mind. The narrative did more than is required and I found plenty to digest in its fairy tale element. The Other Lamb movie explained the flock of sheep as not only this church’s source of food but as a metaphor for the structure of the group itself.

The fairytale stories told at the beginning and the end of the film gave me the closure I needed. I’m hesitant to compare this to another movie, however, it really does have a The Witch vibe. Holding it up with the barest The Wind movie type of score but with a lot less sharpness.

Overall, I loved The Other Lamb movie. For all intents and purposes, its intentions are clear. It will make you unquestionably uncomfortable and for me, once it kicks into gear with its poetic and rebellious actions it will show you what real power looks like.

I give The Other Lamb

4 replacement rams out of 5

Where to Watch “The Other Lamb”

The Other Lamb movie is available on plenty of streaming platforms. It’s also available to rent or buy. Check the link below for your region’s options. The feature film is not available in all countries.

The Other Lamb movie Where To Watch:

Cult Horror Movies