In the haunting drama 'What We Hide', two young sisters must navigate the treacherous aftermath of their mother's fatal overdose, with her body hidden away in a trunk like an unceremonious secret. The film takes place in the southern US, where the opioid crisis has left its devastating mark, and here Dan Kay's directorial efforts struggle to do justice to this weighty subject matter.
At the center of the story are Jessie, 11, and Spider, 15, whose lives have been forever changed by their mother's addiction. While Jessie's response to tragedy is marked by warmth and compassion, her younger sister takes a more pragmatic approach, prioritizing practicality over emotional expression. As they try to make sense of their new reality, the sisters must contend with a host of external pressures, including a junkie boyfriend and a social worker who seems more interested in taking control than providing support.
Despite its promising premise, 'What We Hide' feels curiously unfocused, never quite finding its footing as it careens from one plot point to the next. The supporting characters are woefully underdeveloped, serving only to heighten the sense of unease and uncertainty that pervades the film's atmosphere. Even a potentially compelling subplot – the tentative romance between Spider and a young convenience store clerk – is ultimately left unfulfilled.
The two lead actresses do their best with the material they're given, however. Jojo Regina shines as Jessie, bringing a depth and vulnerability to her performance that makes it impossible not to be drawn in by her character's struggles. Mckenna Grace, on the other hand, provides a nuanced portrayal of Spider, capturing the pain and frustration of a girl who feels lost and alone.
The chemistry between the two sisters is undoubtedly touching, but ultimately, 'What We Hide' fails to dig deep enough into the complexities of their situation. Instead, it settles for a more surface-level exploration of trauma and recovery, never quite plumbing the depths that this subject matter demands. As a result, the film feels like an incomplete portrait – a poignant glimpse of a young girl's struggle, but ultimately, only scratching the surface.
At the center of the story are Jessie, 11, and Spider, 15, whose lives have been forever changed by their mother's addiction. While Jessie's response to tragedy is marked by warmth and compassion, her younger sister takes a more pragmatic approach, prioritizing practicality over emotional expression. As they try to make sense of their new reality, the sisters must contend with a host of external pressures, including a junkie boyfriend and a social worker who seems more interested in taking control than providing support.
Despite its promising premise, 'What We Hide' feels curiously unfocused, never quite finding its footing as it careens from one plot point to the next. The supporting characters are woefully underdeveloped, serving only to heighten the sense of unease and uncertainty that pervades the film's atmosphere. Even a potentially compelling subplot – the tentative romance between Spider and a young convenience store clerk – is ultimately left unfulfilled.
The two lead actresses do their best with the material they're given, however. Jojo Regina shines as Jessie, bringing a depth and vulnerability to her performance that makes it impossible not to be drawn in by her character's struggles. Mckenna Grace, on the other hand, provides a nuanced portrayal of Spider, capturing the pain and frustration of a girl who feels lost and alone.
The chemistry between the two sisters is undoubtedly touching, but ultimately, 'What We Hide' fails to dig deep enough into the complexities of their situation. Instead, it settles for a more surface-level exploration of trauma and recovery, never quite plumbing the depths that this subject matter demands. As a result, the film feels like an incomplete portrait – a poignant glimpse of a young girl's struggle, but ultimately, only scratching the surface.
I think the movie 'What We Hide' is really trying to tackle some heavy issues, but it kinda falls short. The premise is great, showing how two sisters deal with their mom's overdose and the struggles that come with it. Jojo Regina and Mckenna Grace do a fantastic job bringing those characters to life 
. But, I think the problem is that it doesn't really go deep enough into their feelings and whatnot. It feels like it's just scratching the surface, you know? 
Like, we get it, the opioid crisis is bad, but do we need a whole movie to tell us that? 
Still, I guess it's better than nothing, right? 
I mean, I loved the idea of it, but honestly, it just didn't deliver for me 
The way they handled the addiction part was so...lightweight I know it's a super heavy topic, but come on, can't we do better than that? 
And don't even get me started on how much I wanted to see more of Spider and her love interest 
But yeah, the acting from Jojo Regina and Mckenna Grace was honestly the only thing that saved this movie for me 
But at the same time, I felt like the film didn't really dig deep enough into their story. It was like they were just skimming the surface, you feel me? 
I loved Jojo Regina as Jessie though, she brought so much emotion to that role 
And Mckenna Grace did an awesome job as Spider too! 
But overall, it felt like a really rough draft or something... Like, they had some great ideas, but never quite put them together into a cohesive story. I need more depth, you know? 
. The opioid crisis in the southern US is such a heavy subject to tackle, and I think it needs more depth & nuance 
. The two lead actresses are amazing tho 
& Mckenna Grace's Spider is so relatable 
... I wanna feel like the film is really exploring the complexities of trauma & recovery, but it just doesn't quite get there 
... I mean I get it, opioid crisis is a super heavy topic and all that but can't they just deliver something more substantial? 
The two lead actresses are actually pretty great tho 
. And don't even get me started on how they rushed that subplot 
. Can we expect more from a film tackling this sensitive topic? 
. The two lead actresses are literally the only thing that saves this movie from being a total dumpster fire, imo! Jojo Regina is like the sunshine in an otherwise dark room, and Mckenna Grace brings some serious heat as Spider 
.