It’s hard to put into words how ‘Rose Of Nevada’ makes you feel because it’s the kind of film that leaves space for your own interpretations at times. But if I had to describe the experience of seeing it, I would say the film feels like a siren’s song as it’s mysterious and haunting while slowly pulling you in. Let me explain without giving too much away.

Directed by Mark Jenkins, this haunted time-travelling odyssey follows a long-lost ship that unexpectedly returns to harbour. A new crew, Nick (George MacKay) and Liam (Callum Turner), sets sail only to find themselves pulled back into the past, trapped in 1993, where they’re mistaken for the members of the ship’s original crew as the story begins to blur memory, time, grief and identity.

From the very first minutes, the film pulls you into its world through its striking visuals with close-ups of rust, decay and the textures of the ship and town that create the sense that something is not quite right. You can’t help but find yourself wondering what exactly you’re looking at and more importantly, why. There are many characters, names and details that you can’t help but want to learn more about each one. If anything, the film gives you fragments rather than clear answers as it invites you to piece together the mystery yourself. Given the many close-ups shown throughout, it often feels like we will never be given the complete picture of what is happening. I found that filling in the gaps makes every moment feel more intriguing but also that you have to stay fully engaged because if you miss a piece, you might find yourself trying to catch up. Trust me, it happened to me too.

George MacKay and Callum Turner together on screen are a pair I didn’t expect but work incredibly well. You’d expect them to balance each other out but they actually elevate each other’s performances as you can’t help but understand them both and their stories. Each brings something different to their character but both feel relatable and grounded even with the film’s mysterious atmosphere. Through their journey, we see the history of the town unfold and it made me reflect on how every place carries stories we often don’t realise are there until we listen to the people who have lived through them.

I have to admit that when the film ended, I wished I had the chance to ask Mark Jenkins some questions. Even though the ending was clear, I still found myself wanting to know more about the characters, the town and the history behind it. ‘Rose of Nevada’ is not the kind of film you put on to relax or switch off. It’s a film that asks you to pay attention, to listen, to watch closely and to think about what you’re seeing. The answers come slowly, unfolding at a deliberate pace as it allows us to put the pieces together and understand the story better. I have always been fascinated by stories connected to the sea, the ocean’s mystery, the folklore and I always have the feeling that something is hiding beneath it. If anything, ‘Rose of Nevada’ made me crave more answers and learn more about it.

‘Rose of Nevada’ is not the type of film I would normally navigate towards (yes, the sea pun was needed) but there was something about it that pulled me in. I wasn’t joking when I said it feels like a siren’s song in its mysterious hypnotic way because it’s impossible to ignore the need to see more.

And sometimes that’s exactly the kind of film experience you remember the most and luckily ‘Rose of Nevada’ will be released in cinemas on 24th April.