After their mother suffers a fatal overdose, two sisters fear that the foster system will separate them and decide to hide the body. But their lie may be discovered and they must decide how far the...
Told through the eyes of two young girls who are forced to grow up far too quickly, “What We Hide” is a tough, emotionally raw drama from writer / director Dan Kay. It’s a coming-of-age tale that’s reminiscent of “Winter’s Bone,” delivering a social issues story that’s both intimate and unsettling.
After their mother dies of an overdose, sisters Spider (Mckenna Grace) and Jessie (Jojo Regina) make the unthinkable decision to hide her death to avoid being separated by the foster system. What follows is a tense, quietly devastating portrait of resilience, fear, and the fierce bond between siblings caught in a no-win situation.
Grace continues to prove she’s one of the most talented young actors working today. Her performance as Spider is layered and unforgettable, balancing fear, anger, love, and survival instincts with a vulnerability that feels lived-in. Regina is also terrific, adding warmth and innocence to a role that could’ve easily been overshadowed. Together they’re the emotional heart of the film, with a chemistry makes the sisterly bond feel completely real.
Kay pulls no punches in his portrayal of kids left behind by the opioid crisis. There are no easy answers here, just impossible choices made by children doing their best to keep their lives from completely unraveling. It’s a powerful premise that sheds light on a side of the epidemic rarely shown on screen: the children who are left to pick up the pieces in silence.
The film does stumble slightly in its writing. Some of the dialogue leans too heavily on rural clichés, with lines full of “ain’t” and “don’t matter none” that can feel forced and unnatural. At times it edges into caricature, pulling focus away from the more grounded, realistic tone the story otherwise maintains so well.
It’s when the film embraces the simplicity of its story and focuses on the lived reality of these girls (including their fear of being separated, the small victories in their makeshift survival, and the looming presence of a community that doesn’t quite see them) that it becomes the most affecting.
Thankfully devoid of melodrama, “What We Hide” tells its story with empathy and focus. The film tackles the emotional wreckage of addiction, but also shows the reality of children forced to navigate adult horrors. It’s not an easy film to watch, but it’s a meaningful one, serving as a reminder that some of the most devastating stories are the ones we rarely see.
