Sator is a slow-burning horror film that explores the themes of isolation, grief, and mental illness through the prism of supernatural horror. The film was written, directed, and produced by Jordan Graham, who spent years living with and documenting his own family's experiences with mental illness and the paranormal. Shot on-location in a California forest with a mostly non-professional cast, Sator has a haunting, atmospheric quality that builds slowly towards a disturbing and enigmatic climax.
Adam is the film's central character, a withdrawn and melancholy young man who spends most of his time alone in his cabin, surrounded by the detritus of his family's troubled past. His brother Pete is a more gregarious and outgoing surrogate father figure, but also struggles with addiction and emotional instability. Their grandmother Nani, who speaks in a strange, otherworldly language and claims to communicate with a spirit called Sator, is a recurring presence in their lives, both comforting and unsettling.
As the film progresses, it becomes clear that there is something malevolent and dangerous lurking in the woods around Adam's cabin. He begins to experience strange, terrifying visions, and starts to hear a mysterious voice speaking to him through his computer and other electronic devices. Meanwhile, Pete's addiction spirals out of control, and Nani's mental and physical health deteriorate. It's never entirely clear whether Sator is a malevolent presence that is causing these problems, or simply a manifestation of the family's collective trauma and dysfunction.
Despite its slow pace and often abstract narrative, Sator is a deeply haunting and unsettling film that lingers long in the memory. Graham's direction is often abstract and impressionistic, with haunting images and sounds that create a sense of creeping dread and unease. The film is bolstered by strong performances from its non-professional cast, particularly Gabe Nicholson as Adam, who conveys a sense of deep sadness and loneliness without saying much at all. The film is a must-see for fans of slow-burning, atmospheric horror, and a testament to the power of independent filmmaking.