Official Synopsis
Haunted by nightmares and visions, an artist chases the ghost of her father to the remote coast of Newfoundland. Abandoning all that she knows of her life in Iceland, Vera settles in a remote Canadian fishing village looking for answers. She finds herself drawn to Jack, a seal hunter leaving town with his failing boat and superstitious crew. With a curious romance blossoming, Vera sneaks aboard his fledgling longliner destined for ice floes full of seals. The vessel is choked in a thick fog and there is no bounty on the water. Jack’s scrappy crew is led by Patrick – desperate and plagued by superstition, he blames the mysterious weather on the stowaway. Violence erupts, hurling Jack and Vera into a fit of survival. HANGASHORE is a hypnotic vision of romance glowing in frozen Newfoundland landscapes.
Review
Because Calgary Underground Film Festival’s official description above sets up the story so well, I’ll dive right into review specifics. Writer/director Justin Oakey’s Hangashore (Canada, 2025) is a beautifully realized, eerie blend of folk horror, superstitions, and hard-hitting drama.
James Frecheville as troubled seal hunter Jack, Hera Hilmar as the haunted Vera, Stephen Oates as Jack’s alcoholic shipmate Donovan, and Bridget Wareham as fellow shipmate and Donovan’s sister Kelly all provide a virtual acting clinic. They head up a strong cast, with the supporting players also giving solid performances.
Oakey crafts Hangashore with a slow burn approach, giving viewers plenty of time to get to know the characters and what troubles them well. This works in a highly effective manner as the unsettling early vibe builds into a nerve-wracking third act and mysterious climax.Director of Photography James Klopko beautifully captures the dread-filled proceedings and the breathtaking Newfoundland landscape, as well as the claustrophobic feeling of the small, doomed boat.
Aficionados of eldritch folk horror including the superstitions of sailors will want to seek out the marvelously acted, wonderfully crafted Hangashore.
Hangashore screened as part of Calgary Underground Film Festival, which ran April 16-26, 2026. For more information, visit calgaryundergroundfilm.com.
