In Ruth Paxton’s haunting debut feature, widowed mother Holly grapples with eldest daughter Betsey’s disturbing conviction that her body has become a vessel for an unknown higher power, one that has ominously robbed her of any appetite, and which Betsey believes heralds a cataclysmic upheaval. Blending discomforting body horror and simmering psychodrama, Paxton skillfully escalates a common domestic dynamic (“You’re not leaving the table until you finish your plate!”) into the upsetting but profound parental fear of being unable to understand or protect one’s own child from an unforgiving world. A visually stunning and often disquieting tale of a family in crisis, A Banquet delivers a deliciously crafted journey into psychological horror. (Adult content)  

Official Selection – Toronto International Film Festival  

Available for virtual viewing November 11-17 in PA, WV, and OH only.

Watch a clip from the film below: