- Amanda Seyfried, Lewis Pullman, Thomasin McKenzie
- February 27th 2026
- 137
- Mona Fastvold
Amanda Seyfried plays Ann Lee, the founder of the Shakers religious movement, in Mona Fastvold’s unusual historical drama.
We’ve seen Amanda Seyfried in musicals like Les Misérables and Mamma Mia! before, but The Testament of Ann Lee is a different kettle of fish entirely.
This historical musical drama, co-written and directed by Mona Fastvold, tells the story of Ann Lee (Seyfried), one of the world’s first female religious leaders.
Set in Manchester in the 18th Century, the story depicts the origins of Lee’s religious fanaticism and shows why she founded her own religious sect, the Shakers.
Lee then decides to leave England and emigrate to upstate New York with her husband Abraham (Christopher Abbott), brother William (Lewis Pullman), niece Nancy (Viola Prettejohn) and longtime follower Mary (Thomasin McKenzie) to recruit more members for their movement.
The Testament of Ann Lee is unusual, bold and ambitious, and you’ve probably never seen anything like it. While you have to respect an audacious swing, it is not a particularly accessible or broadly appealing film. It is weird, and you’re either on its wavelength or not.
Describing it as a musical feels inaccurate because this is not a film where people burst into song during well-defined numbers and bust out synchronised choreography.
Here, the music-based moments are more organic as they depict the Shakers – aka the Shaking Quakers – worshipping through convulsive religious dancing and choral chanting.
Thanks to Daniel Blumberg’s haunting music, Seyfried’s gorgeous singing voice and the ensemble working through their pain and grief through primal movements, grunts and groans, these are the highlights of the film.
It’s shocking that Seyfried didn’t receive a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her ferocious, grief-stricken performance. Despite the wobbly Mancunian accent (an issue for all cast members), she thoroughly deserved the awards recognition for this fearless role.
The story is the strongest and most gripping when it is set in Manchester, and unfortunately, it loses steam once it moves to America and never manages to regain its momentum, meaning the final 45 minutes drag.
While the film as a whole may be too bonkers for some, there is no denying that this is one of Seyfried’s best performances to date. It may even be the best performance of her entire career.
In cinemas from Friday 27th February
By Hannah Wales
© Cover Media