This article contains spoilers! We will discuss key plot details and the ending of “The Piano Lesson,” now streaming on Netflix. Proceed with caution if you haven’t watched it yet.

“The Piano Lesson” is the most surprising horror film of the year.

Directed by Malcolm Washington, this film marks his debut and is based on an August Wilson play. It has strong potential for Oscar nominations for Best Picture, with performances from John David Washington and Danielle Deadwyler as siblings in conflict over their family piano. What begins as a serious drama evolves into a ghost story as apparitions from their past, including both revered and reviled figures, manifest in a gripping, eerie conclusion.

Malcolm Washington wanted to incorporate supernatural elements as a “Trojan horse” to explore themes of spirituality and the ties people have to their ancestry, according to the filmmaker, who is the younger brother of John David and the son of Denzel Washington, the producer of “Piano Lesson.”

Set in 1936 Pittsburgh, “Piano Lesson” follows the strained relationship between Boy Willie Charles (John David Washington) and his sister Berniece (Deadwyler) as they grapple with their heirloom piano’s complex legacy. In the 1800s, Robert Sutter (David Atkinson) exchanged two enslaved individuals, Boy Willie’s and Berniece’s great-grandmother and her son, to obtain this piano as a gift for his wife. Later, their great-grandfather, a talented woodworker, carved the faces and stories of their ancestors into the instrument. In 1911, their father, Boy Charles (Stephan James), made the bold decision to steal the cherished piano from James Sutter (Jay Peterson), Robert’s grandson.

Doaker explains Boy Charles’s belief about the piano: “He said it was the story of our whole family, and as long as Sutter had it, he had us. He claimed we were still enslaved as long as Sutter owned it.”

Sutter has recently passed away under strange circumstances, and now his ghost haunts the piano. His spirit first appears to Berniece, her daughter Maretha (Skylar Aleece Smith), and Uncle Doaker (Samuel L. Jackson), among others. In a climactic scene, Sutter’s Ghost confronts Boy Willie, threatening Doaker’s brother Wining Boy (Michael Potts), Boy Willie’s friend Lymon (Ray Fisher), and Berniece’s preacher love interest Avery (Corey Hawkins). To confront this specter, Berniece plays the piano and summons her ancestors, who assist in exorcising Sutter’s Ghost.

While the ghost aspect is part of Wilson’s original 1987 play, it was less prominent and lacked a conclusive ending, according to producer Todd Black. He notes, “Malcolm truly captured this in a way no one else has. It’s unexpected and sneaks up on you.”

During the filming of a poignant scene where Berniece, entranced, connects with her ancestral spirits, Deadwyler expressed that she did not fully grasp everything happening but felt both heavy and light at the same time. For her, this moment transcended the film: “When you have everyone embodying the ancestors, they become yours. That’s what many viewers resonate with—understanding there are those beyond us, still present, guiding us.”

John David Washington described this as “one of those unforgettable moments in my career.”

Another significant moment for Malcolm Washington occurred when the actors portraying the ancestral spirits stood behind Deadwyler during the emotional climax before Sutter’s Ghost is vanquished in flames, saving Boy Willie.

Malcolm reflects, “We created a family portrait that transcends time and space. When they all place their hands on her and the lights flicker, I felt a collective chill among us, especially the Black members of our crew. In that moment, we transcended the set, connecting deeply to our history and the legacy we sought to honor.”

Deadwyler adds, “When someone places their hand on your shoulder, it transforms you.”