The Innocents (2022)

3 1/2 Stars (out of 4)

Power Dangers

By Jeffrey M. Anderson

It's another movie about super-powers, but it's unlike any of the others. In Norway, 9 year-old Ida (Rakel Lenora Flottum) has a nonverbal, older sister, Anna (Alva Brynsmo Ramstad), who is also on the autism spectrum. Anna doesn't seem to express pain, so Ida enjoys pinching her every so often. In their housing complex, over the summer, Ida meets Aisha (Mina Yasmin Bremseth Asheim) and Ben (Sam Ashraf). They seem to have superpowers. Aisha can understand Anna's thoughts, and Ben can move small objects with his mind. Moreover, when the children are together, their powers seem to be intensified. (Anna can spin a plate and keep it going indefinitely, which she can't do alone at home.) At first the foursome have fun playing with their talents, making up little games, but before long the games go too far, and a genuine danger lurks. In essence, The Innocents is about how right and wrong, good and evil, aren't necessarily innate human traits. It's a chilling film, but undeniably powerful.