Someone’s Daughter – Review | Fantasia (4/5)

SOMEONE’S DAUGHTER is world-premiering at Fantasia 2026. It’s a tense and thought-provoking revenge thriller with a strong female lead and a small cast in a remote setting. Read more in our Someone’s Daughter movie review.

SOMEONE’S DAUGHTER is a Canadian revenge thriller that had its World Premiere at Fantasia 2026. Blending survival, psychological suspense, and moral dilemmas, it delivers a slow-burning but ultimately satisfying story led by a resilient female protagonist.

Fans of female-driven revenge stories with complex characters should definitely give this one a look.

Read more in our Someone’s Daughter movie review below. We screened the movie at Fantasia 2026.

A simple, yet creative, revenge plan

Over a decade ago, defense lawyer Sam (Pascale Bussières) successfully defended her client Paul (François Arnaud) against rape accusations. Years later, the victim’s father kidnaps both Sam and Paul, leaving them stranded in the Canadian wilderness with only each other to rely on.

As Paul becomes increasingly unsettling, Sam begins questioning everything she believed about the case that defined her career.

Someone’s Daughter explores the complicated relationship between justice and morality while keeping its audience guessing.

A revenge thriller that constantly challenges your assumptions

Criminal defense lawyer Sam finds herself in the worst possible situation when she is forced to depend on the very man she once defended in court. Stranded on a remote Canadian island, survival quickly becomes only one part of the story as lingering doubts about Paul’s past begin to surface.

The film cleverly keeps the audience questioning everyone’s motives, making it difficult to decide who deserves sympathy and who may be hiding darker intentions.

What makes Someone’s Daughter especially compelling is that it avoids the familiar “damsel in distress” approach. Instead, Sam is a capable, determined woman whose intelligence and resilience are constantly put to the test.

Pascale Bussières delivers a wonderfully grounded performance, while François Arnaud (MOM) is equally effective at keeping both Sam and the audience uncertain about Paul’s true nature. Their dynamic drives the entire film, and the slow-burn pacing allows the psychological tension to build naturally.

A thoughtful look at justice, survival, and difficult choices

Director Wiebke von Carolsfeld once again demonstrates her ability to explore morally complex characters. In Someone’s Daughter, she carefully examines the uneasy relationship between the law and true justice, crafting a revenge thriller that is just as interested in ethical questions as it is in suspense.

The screenplay, co-written by Doug Taylor (Splice, A Christmas Horror Story) and Wiebke von Carolsfeld, gives its characters enough nuance that easy answers never feel possible.

The film earns a strong 4 out of 5 stars thanks to its compelling central performances, its thoughtful approach to revenge, and its refreshingly capable female lead. Sam is never reduced to being “just” another victim, making her journey all the more satisfying.

While the deliberate pacing may not appeal to everyone, those willing to embrace its measured approach will find a smart, engaging thriller that lingers long after the credits roll.

SOMEONE’S DAUGHTER was screened at Fantasia 2026.

Details

Director: Wiebke Von Carolsfeld
Writers: Doug Taylor, Wiebke Von Carolsfeld
Cast: Pascale Bussières, François Arnaud, Michael Greyeyes, Peter Outerbridge