Starring Timothy Spall, Melanie Lynskey, Lucy Lawless, Nicholas Galitzine and Erana James, it was released in New Zealand on 28 September 2017, followed by a limited theatrical run in the United States on 22 February 2019.

[3] Teenaged Laura (Erana James), a strong-willed schoolgirl with a rare psychic gift, finds herself drawn into a terrifying battle when her younger brother (Benji Purchase) falls under the curse of an ancient, human-devouring demon (Timothy Spall).

With their distraught mother (Melanie Lynskey) looking on helplessly as her son's life is drained out of him bit by bit, Laura must learn to harness her mystical powers—with the help of enigmatic outsiders Sorenson (Nicholas Galitzine) and Miryam (Lucy Lawless)—in order to vanquish the malevolent force, save her sibling, and make peace with her true identity.

[1] It was generally well received by critics,[3] with Stuff's Sarah Watt commending its "suitably New Zealand" feel and the filmmakers' decision to shoot in the red zone of Christchurch.

[5] In a similarly warm appraisal, the Los Angeles Times described it as "an astute adaptation [of Mahy's novel], balancing magical arcana with everyday adolescent turmoil";[6] while Slant Magazine's Keith Watson felt that, despite some narrative flaws, it was a "lively and engaging excursion into an unusually naturalistic world of magic".