‘What We Hide’ Review – Visceral Emotion And Raw Talent Elevate Powerful Story About Secrets & Family

What We Hide is by no means a reinvention of the drama wheel; however, the rawness of emotion and the bond between two sisters is enough to make even the most hardened cynic crack. The story is straightforward, but leaves the audience holding their breath as much as the two girls who struggle to maintain a dire secret that, if revealed, could tear their family apart. This movie wrecked me. And by that I mean it as a compliment to the strength of the script and the performances. In an against-all-odds story, this quiet, no-frills drama is one of the year’s best.

Spider (Mckenna Grace) and Jessie (Jojo Regina) are living on the other side of the train tracks. Their drug-addled mother is fast becoming a disruption to their childhood, and for Spider, the bane of her existence. However, tragedy finally strikes when their mother overdoses. Terrified and fearful about the future, the sisters make a pact to hide the body. Their brash decision is premeditated on the fear of being separated from each other by the strained foster care system. They can keep up appearances despite internal tensions at home. However, when the local sheriff (Jesse Williams) asks questions and their mom’s drug dealer (Dacre Montgomery) lurks around the house, their future is not only in question, but so too is their safety.

The film opens with Spider and Jessie’s mother dead, and we see the heartfelt decision the two sisters make to hide the body in the shed on the family home. From the start, we see the stakes. Spider, being the oldest, acts as both the protector of the secret and her little sister. Their relationship is the core of the film’s strength. The story navigates the different and challenging perspectives of a drug-addled parent. Spider is very matter-of-fact, while Jessie clings to childhood innocence. This dichotomy allows for a natural tension to arise, particularly as they work together to keep the secret. In addition, the tension provides for gripping performances that bring us right into the home of a broken family.

Grace is simply sublime here. She acts like a girl far beyond her years, despite being only fifteen years old in the story. There is a world weariness, and Grace brings a sense of frustration along with latent regret. Her performance is arresting. We watch a terrific and heartbreaking arc of someone enduring the growing pains of adolescence into adulthood.

Opposite, Grace is Regina, who is a force of nature in this movie. She plays childlike innocence with a billowing sense of maturity. Their story captures a harsh reality that many children and families face – a home in crisis. This story is all too real, capturing the fragility of life and the misbegotten structures of a broken system. Their performance feels like career launchers. Fortunately, Grace and Regina have made a name for themselves. What We Hide serves as a reminder of their incredible talent and why they should be household names!

The billowing tension brought on by an inquisitive sheriff adds to the drama. We see at hand the decaying structures and how easily children fall through the cracks. It is heartbreaking because it is authentic, and both Grace and Regina capture this reality with absolute candor. Spider is hellbent to keep her and Jessie together, knowing full well they will likely never see each other again if and when the system intervenes. The story highlights the strength of a family bond, as well as the need for reform in child services in this country.

I imagine it is by design, but the film left me angry. Angry at how this fictional story is likely a window into what reality is for many. The raw emotion brought by Grace and Regina spells out the urgency for those simply wishing to survive the day. Their story is poetic because it illustrates the lengths to which people will go to save not only themselves, but more importantly, their families. What We Hide plays in part like a documentary, capturing a harsh reality and an ambiguous situation. While still offering us a glimmer of hope.

Some may find the ending to be somewhat predictable, while others may desire a more definitive conclusion; however, this is mainly by design of the story. Answers are not entirely given, but therein lies the point. This film is no treatise on what needs to be done to fix a broken system. It instead spotlights survival and unconditional love. Powerful themes that resonate particularly strongly in today’s world. Ultimately, when the credits roll, if a film can evoke righteous anger and a sense of resolve, then it has done its job.   

What We Hide is currently playing in select theaters courtesy of Gravitas Ventures. The film will debut on VOD and Digital on August 29, 2025.