The Stone emerges as a meditative, slow-burning thriller that blends ancient mysticism with modern-day paranoia. Directed by the enigmatic newcomer Lysander Croix, the film stars Ruth Negga, Oscar Isaac, and Tahar Rahim in a story that begins with the accidental unearthing of a monolithic black stone in the Jordanian desert.
At first, the stone appears inert—an archaeological curiosity. But as a team of international scientists and spiritual scholars attempt to decipher its origin, inexplicable events begin to unfold. Dreams turn into shared hallucinations. Languages long dead start resurfacing. And people begin to disappear.
The film resists easy classification—part supernatural mystery, part psychological horror, and part philosophical treatise on memory, language, and the burden of ancient knowledge. Croix's direction is atmospheric and deliberate, often lingering in silence as the characters confront something far older than human civilization. The pacing may test the patience of action-oriented viewers, but those willing to surrender to its rhythm are richly rewarded.
The performances are uniformly strong. Ruth Negga brings quiet intensity as Dr. Layla Farouk, an Egyptologist haunted by visions she refuses to admit are real. Oscar Isaac plays against type as a jaded linguist, skeptical to the end. But it’s Tahar Rahim who surprises most as a Sufi mystic whose cryptic warnings prove chillingly accurate.
What truly elevates The Stone is its refusal to provide easy answers. Is the stone a relic? A warning? A sentient artifact? Croix leaves the door wide open—choosing to explore what happens when humanity confronts something it cannot understand, let alone control.
While The Stone concludes with ambiguity—a sudden global blackout and a single word carved into the Earth’s crust: “Awaken”—rumors have already begun swirling about a follow-up.
If the upcoming sequel, “The Stone: Divide”, follows through on early leaks, it may shift from the contained setting of the first film to a more expansive global narrative. The plot is expected to trace the stone’s “siblings,” hidden across continents, and their simultaneous activation. Governments, cults, and scientists will reportedly clash over whether these relics are salvation or destruction.
Early concept art hints at scenes set in Antarctic research bases, submerged ruins beneath the Pacific, and even space-based observation outposts. Rumored new cast members include Daniel Kaluuya, Golshifteh Farahani, and Ben Whishaw.
If Croix returns as director, audiences can likely expect another cerebral, atmospheric journey—one that deepens the mythos while continuing to ask uncomfortable questions about human history and its forgotten truths.
