Martyrs Lane is a melancholic ghost story about Leah, a 10-year-old who lives in a large house with her family. Her mother seems cold and distant towards her and she's doing everything she can to get closer to her. One night, she's visited by a mysterious guest and each night she's given a task that reveals why her mother is the way she is. It's a compelling exploration of grief and acceptance, how buried past can affect the present. It's like watching Del Toro early works. Plays out more as a drama and scaring the audience isn't the main focus. It can get too slow and the reveal is easy to predict early on but it manages to make up for it with interesting characters. Some lovely visuals and terrific performances from the child actors. While it's predictable, it's still an enjoyable experience.
An amazing directing debut from Ray Romano in which he gives us this beautifully crafted simple story about family, sacrifice, and love. This movie feels so real and everybody in it gives a great performance. Also an amazing story about the relationship of basketball between a father and son.
