Episode Description
At the Place of Ghosts is the kind of film that stays with you long after the credits. Bretten Hannam's Mi'kmaq supernatural thriller follows two estranged brothers, Mise'l and Antle, who are forced back together when a malevolent spirit from their shared childhood begins poisoning them from the inside out.
Their only option: enter Sk+te'kmujue'katik, the Place of Ghosts, a forest where time folds on itself and the living walk alongside ancestors, future selves, and the traumas they tried to leave behind. Arthur and Meaghan break down everything that makes this Canadian indigenous horror film work so well; the nonlinear storytelling that never loses you, the stunning Nova Scotia cinematography by Guy Godfree, the powerhouse performances from Forrest Goodluck and Blake Alec Miranda, and the way the film explores generational trauma, queerness, two-spirit identity, and Mi'kmaq culture without ever shoving it in your face.
Premiering at TIFF 2025 and now hitting Canadian theatres on May 8, 2026 via VVS Films, this is a slow burn supernatural drama wrapped in a ghost story wrapped back into a drama again. Meaghan goes 9/10. Arthur's at a solid 8. Neither of them can find much to complain about, and honestly that almost never happens.
In this episode, we cover:
• Why the nonlinear storytelling actually works
• The film's exploration of generational trauma and two-spirit identity
• Stunning cinematography and the technical achievement of shooting in remote forests
• How this compares to the current wave of indigenous horror
• Red Dress Day, Moose Hide Campaign Day, and indigenous heritage resources
• Book recommendations: Highway of Tears, Five Little Indians, Bad Cree, Never Whistle at Night
At the Place of Ghosts releases in Canadian theatres May 8, 2026.
About the Film
- At the Place of Ghosts (Sk+te'kmujue'katik) directed and written by Bretten Hannam; a Canada/Belgium co-production
- Starring Forrest Goodluck as Antle, Blake Alec Miranda as Mise'l, and Glen Gould as their father
- Cinematography by Guy Godfree; score by Jeremy Dutcher
- World premiere at TIFF 2025 (Platform Prize program); Canadian theatrical release May 8, 2026 via VVS Films
- Hannam's previous feature: Wildhood (2021), also exploring indigenous identity and brotherhood
Mi'kmaq Culture, Two-Spirit Identity, and Generational Trauma
- The Mi'kmaq are indigenous peoples primarily residing in Atlantic Canada (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI, Newfoundland and Labrador) and parts of Maine
- The film features dialogue in both English and the Mi'kmaq language
- Exploration of two-spirit identity and gender fluidity within indigenous communities
- The impact of residential schools and colonialism on generational trauma, identity, and family dynamics
Indigenous Heritage Days and Resources
- Red Dress Day (May 5): Commemorating missing and murdered indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people; originated from a 2010 art installation by Métis artist Jamie Black [LINK: Amnesty International MMIWG resources]
- Moose Hide Campaign Day (May 14): Grassroots movement engaging men and boys to end violence against indigenous women and children [LINK: moosehidecampaign.ca]
- National Day of Truth and Reconciliation (September 30): Also known as Orange Shirt Day
Indigenous Literature Recommendations
- Highway of Tears by Jessica McDiarmid; nonfiction investigating missing and murdered indigenous women along Highway 16 in BC
- Five Little Indians by Michelle Good; fiction based on real events about children escaping the residential school system
- Bad Cree by Jessica Johns; supernatural indigenous horror novel
- Never Whistle at Night edited by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.; bestselling indigenous dark fiction anthology. Sequel (Back for Blood) coming August 2026
What's Next
- Next week: Obsession by Curry Barker (in theatres May 15). Barker recently tapped to direct A24's Texas Chainsaw Massacre reimagining
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