Céline Roustan
Billy and Riley’s date is going well – so well, in fact, that she invites him back to her place. She can barely hide her excitement at connecting with a fellow Indigenous person, but could this positive reaction be hiding something darker? Writer-director ishkwaazhe Shane McSauby blends romcom, dark comedy, and genre in The Beguiling, crafting an effective thriller based on real-life occurrences.
“The idea of taking on a Native identity that isn’t yours is so ridiculous that dark comedy felt perfect”
“Non-Native people knowingly claiming Native identity has really exploded lately”, McSauby explains, adding that he has heard accounts of “people stealing real Native people’s stories of historical trauma and using them as their own to secure jobs, funding, or social capital.” While this makes for a good premise for a film, it also reflects the discourse around identity and generational trauma and how they’ve been “commodified”. Discussing the tone he built in The Beguiling, McSauby explains: “The idea of taking on a Native identity that isn’t yours is so ridiculous that dark comedy felt perfect. But stealing people’s real stories of trauma is also sinister, so a mix of horror felt like the right fit.”
Tokenization and identity are complex, nuanced issues that for some can be easier to avoid. With The Beguiling, McSauby keeps the conversation active, avoiding any pretension. Through an entertaining lens, he subtly addresses the topic and lets his audience sit with – and grasp – the full depth of his narrative. By cleverly combining comedy and genre, the filmmaker serves both his narrative and how he intends to convey it. Juggling the two perfectly, the film constantly keeps us on our toes, uncertain what will happen next, and questioning the actual presence of a threat.
Benairen Kane stars as Billy in The Beguiling
Shot by S/W alum Shaandiin Tome (Long Line of Ladies), the cinematography echoes the subtle tonal balance McSauby created. In conjunction with the sound design and the pacing crafted by editor Matt Laud, The Beguiling places us firmly in Billy’s shoes, taking us on the emotional roller coaster of his encounter with Riley – frequently shifting between the sense of a date going great and the creeping sensation this could all be a nightmare.
Benairen Kane, as Billy – the male protagonist, is the perfect good guy in this story. He makes his character instantly likeable and easy to root for. He injects so much genuine kindness in his performance, creating a strong emotional connection between his character and the audience, while his growing disbelief is just as compelling. Opposite him, Kim Savarino delivers an equally perfect performance, conveying just the right amount of crazy so that it never comes across as farcical, but so the comedy and the genre still land so convincingly.
The Beguiling had its World Premiere at the 2024 edition of TIFF and went on to be selected at SXSW and the Palm Springs ShortFest. It also won the 7th Student Short Film Showcase, presented by The Gotham and Focus Features, who released the film on YouTube.