I don't think any movie has surprised me more this year than "The Testament of Ann Lee. I went into this movie blind, not knowing a single thing about it. When I left the theater, it was firmly on my list of the best movies I've seen in 2025.
And when I say I knew nothing about this historical drama, I mean it. Which ended up being a bold choice when, mere minutes into the movie, it was suddenly revealed to me that "The Testament of Ann Lee" is a musical. Specifically, it's a musical about Ann Lee, the leader of the Christian sect known as the "Shaking Quakers" or Shakers.
'The Testament of Ann Lee' succeeds because it's a musical, not despite it
As I mentioned, "The Testament of Ann Lee" stars Seyfried as Ann Lee, leader of the Shakers. This was a branch of Christianity that left England to rise to minor prominence in the American colonies, particularly the mid-Atlantic and American Midwest. Today, they're most known for well-made furniture, but at the time, Ann was viewed as a religious firebrand, advocating for gender equality, communal living, ecstatic devotion to Christ (the dances that gave her followers the name "Shakers") and abstinence from sexual relations. She was even viewed as the female embodiment of Christ.
Now, this movie works on its own as a movie, or at least, it's a more than passable biopic. It's beautifully shot; not quite on a par with the last movie writer/director Mona Fastvold wrote, "The Brutalist" (both movies co-written with her partner Brady Corbet), but not far off. And the set design, recreating the impeccable work of the Shaker craftsmen, is stellar, as is the costuming.
These aren't the only commendable aspects of the film. The accent work also feels well done, though having not lived in 1740s Manchester nor 1770s America, I could be wrong. The score is largely additive, aside from a dalliance with an electric guitar at one point.
But, for all these positives, this movie lives and dies on its musical numbers and the choreographed dances that come with them. Thankfully, this is not just another positive mark for "The Testament of Ann Lee" — it's the best part of the movie.
The songs are excellent, bringing old Shaker spirituals to life. They're also largely a showcase for Amanda Seyfried's vocal talents, which, for those of you who aren't aware, are impressive. She's excellent in the Mamma Mia movies, perhaps the most well-known example of her singing bona fides. But she was nearly cast in the Wicked films as Glinda (which ultimately went to Ariana Grande) and is currently being heavily fancast as Joni Mitchell in an upcoming Cameron Crowe biopic about the folk singing legend. She's a phenomenal vocalist, and that's on full display in this movie.
Equally impressive, though, is the dancing that accompanies the musical numbers. The shaking, which can seem chaotic, is expertly choreographed, down to being intentionally imperfect. The dancers simply seem to be almost on tracks, puppeted like marionettes. But if you look closely, you can see some people are dancing slightly out of step, giving these precise movements a semblance of organically contrived ecstasy.
If you're not a musical fan, trust me, I get it. But I implore you to go see "The Testament of Ann Lee" regardless. If you're someone who can appreciate the craft of filmmaking or an incredible performance from a star actor, then this movie still has something for you.
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