Dealing with grief and loss plus the exploitation of indigenous cultures from the richer colonists, The Returned delivers plenty of whispers in the night and visions in the dark, stemming from the decision by one of the characters to bring her baby back from the dead by praying to a mystical and mythical lady in the ‘mount’. The intriguing opening sequences promise a movie with real potential - but potential which is never fully realized. The slow-burn of the story works excellently here but later gives way to something slightly more conventional as the creepy antagonists are revealed - albeit a nice twist on the norm. It’s this decision that slightly derails the movie, setting it on a different trajectory to the movie's admittedly very good ending. 

Fans of atmospheric horror will find a lot to like and admire throughout - Casabe delivers some effective imagery in the second half of the movie and utilizes lighting and shadows potently. The atmosphere itself is consistent, there is always a lingering mystery and small sense of dread that keeps you on your toes and engaged but it doesn't ever threaten to really grab you by the throat and demand your attention. The performances are solid, Maria Soldi and Lali Gonzalez are the standouts delivering strong performances that imbue their characters with strength, mystery, and real emotion in a story that really required those attributes. 

With a score that handsomely builds up the slow-rising tension, The Returned certainly has enough about it to leave you with a sense of unease (and also justified resentment towards certain factions within) but it never threatens to be truly chilling.