Each place holds its own past and concealed details. It’s becoming increasingly common for performers who have achieved a certain level of success to transition into directing, and now Ryan Gosling, from Canada, is doing just that. He served as producer, writer, and director on this fantasy-drama-mystery, which gives the impression of being a semi-apocalyptic movie. The premise is intriguing, and so is the cast. I was quite taken with the storytelling and its suspenseful elements; the story itself is good too, but it’s somewhat difficult to grasp because of the blending of genres. The film wasn't unpleasant, although the narrative doesn't delve deeply enough into the characters to fully reveal them. Specifically, there's a lack of information about the earlier years of the setting which the title refers to. The subsequent developments are unexpected and generate sufficient intrigue to keep you engaged. The location was fantastic—it resembled a desolate area, but it perfectly suited what the script called for. The film’s general concept felt reminiscent of ‘Beasts of the Southern Wild’ combined with ‘Goonies’. The ending didn't quite live up to the expectations set in the first two parts of the story, but ultimately the movie proved to be better than any contrived resolution we might anticipate. It isn't a film for everyone; you need to be prepared to accept shifts in direction at any point during the narrative, even if it’s very straightforward, before giving it a chance. This wasn't an ideal start to Gosling’s directing career, but it’s certainly a respectable first venture into that area, and I anticipate he will eventually create something exceptional.

Source on TMDB