Imprint

IMPRINT

The 2007 film Imprint is a Native American ghost story that follows a lawyer (Shayla Stonefeather) as she convicts a possibly-innocent young man of murder, then returns to her parents’ home to help her mother care for her ailing father.  Shayla hears noises and eventually (just beyond the midpoint of the movie) sees shadowy apparitions.  Is she being haunted by the spirit of the man she convicted (who was shot while trying to escape custody), or is something else going on?  Shayla formulates a theory that involves her missing brother, but a twist ending turns the story on its ear.

Imprint is incredibly slow-paced and may not be to the liking of all viewers.  I was pleasantly surprised that the project turned out to be much more than just another “restless ghost wants the protagonist to uncover the truth about his death” tale.  If you’re patient and sit through this one, you’ll get to see some innovative low-budget special effects.  My primary complaint is that Shayla begins as a rather cold and unsympathetic character.  I recommend this movie only to those who can tolerate slow-developing narratives.