Lindsey Paulette’s A Particular State is a solidly creepy little movie. It carries shades of The Sixth Sense and The Shining, folding both into a story about the ghosts that haunt us. And what happens when we ignore them for too long.
Bailey (Sophia Anthony), an artist in the middle of a move, arrives at her new apartment drained and distant. While unpacking, she meets Amelia (Mayah Villanueva), a friendly neighbor who offers help and a moment of warmth. Bailey accepts, despite her guarded demeanor. After a brief clash with a hostile resident, Amelia leaves her to settle in, reminding Bailey she is close by if needed.
Alone, Bailey tries to make the space feel like home. She begins hanging art. Then comes the knocking. At first, she assumes it is an echo of her own hammering. But it keeps going. Unnerved, she turns to Amelia, who listens but remains cautious. That night, the sound returns. Louder. Relentless. Desperate for rest, Bailey downs sleeping pills and checks out.
“A neighbor has been murdered.”
Morning brings a different intrusion. Police officers Johnson (Kevin Lee Rosenblum) and Ricci (Jim Mone) arrive with news. A neighbor has been murdered. Bailey keeps her composure, deflects suspicion, and is left alone again. Or so it seems. Something lingers. Something old. It presses in, turning her isolation into something far more dangerous.
There is a strong sense of atmosphere throughout. Paulette leans into tension rather than shock. The film builds slowly. It allows dread to settle and spread. The confined setting works in its favor, creating a pressure cooker of unease.
The film also benefits from its performances. Anthony carries the weight of the story well. There is a fragility to her, but also something guarded. Something withheld. That balance keeps the character engaging, even when her actions raise questions.
A Particular State is more than just a haunted space story. It is about guilt. About the scars left by choices we try to bury. Paulette treats horror as something internal as much as external. When the past refuses to stay buried, it does not just haunt. It consumes.
"…a solidly creepy little movie."
