Reviews have been everything from 'bonkers' and 'a plot full of holes' to 'gripping drama'. I went with low expectations, with the hope of being pleasantly surprised.
Claire Foy is a successful, newly-promoted, single businesswoman who has just relocated from Boston to Pennsylvania, a major reason for the move having been that she was being stalked by a former boyfriend (Joshua Leonard) after she refuses to accept his texted beseechings to contact him, and she succeeds in obtaining a restraining order against him. In her new location she calls in to an institution where she understands she can obtain psychological out-patient support for her personal situation. Before she returns to her work she is asked to sign a form agreeing to a future programme of sessions to help her, which she casually does - only to find that she has signed herself to be detained in the premises for a minimum of seven days, including constant close supervision, daily compulsory medications - and sleeping in dual sex dormitories! Her nightmare begins, suddenly exacerbated even further on her discovery that one of the institute's medical staff is her very stalker from Boston.
For the film's first half I was thinking that it wasn't really bad at all - effective suspense, easy and sympathetic identification with the victim, pretty good acting and direction. And then it turned. The change came at a clear delineation point, just over halfway through, in the first major dialogue between Foy and her stalker - when the incredulity I experienced just crumbled all that had so well been built up until that point. The script suddenly became slacker and lazier - and as for the plot, it descended into silly melodrama, as though the writers themselves weren't quite sure how to bring the thing to a close, so took the easy option of vicious violence with letting of blood, including two or three murders - and as for the plot, what plot? Convincing, it was not!
It reminded me a lot of those thrillers back in the 1960s when we saw two films in one programme, a B-movie (similar to this one) propping up, and as a preamble to, a more substantial main feature, the film we had really gone to see.
The generally strong cast also includes Amy Irving as Foy's concerned mother.
It's a pity it turned out not to have lived up to its promise. The only reason I give it a slightly above average rating is that it definitely did have the seeds of a good, solid story in its initial set-up and exposition. Such a shame that it wasn't realised...............5.5.
Thanks for the review Ray. I have read about the film and the only thing that keeps me from seeing it is living alone I tend to avoid any films that involve stalkers or highly scary happenings (such as Mother which I dearly wanted to see but dare not). Call me a wimp, but being alone in a big house it is easy for my imagination to run riot. Your review seems to line up with the ones I have read of the film. I would still like to see it but won't for reasons already stated. The filming on iPhone interests me although I understand the iPhone in question had more filming techniques "available" to it than the average one.
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean, Rachel, which is a reason why I won't watch anything with a high suspense level (not necessarily only stalking) just before retiring. I think that 'Mother', a far better film - and perhaps even 'crazier' than this - would be more likely to freak ANYONE out.
DeleteThis iPhone business which has been made much of, is a curiosity. I'm still not quite sure what it is - so speaks someone who's never owned a mobile phone! - but I only noticed the unusual screen dimensions which ceased to become a distraction very quickly.
I think you'd feel reasonably safe watching this, at east compared with 'Mother' - this latter one you may fairly give a wide berth to as it touches more directly on trust of those one has faith in. (I'd better say no more.)
I almost went to see it today Raymondo but after watching a The Snake Pit on Tuesday , I decided against it
ReplyDeleteIt's certainly an oddity, JayGee, one which delivers so much promise for its first half then fails lamentably to live up to it in the concluding part.
DeleteI hadn't heard of this one over here yet, and now I may just avoid it when i do.
ReplyDeleteYou may care to see it to find out what the fuss is all about Bob. It might even provide you with a few (unintended) laughs. Other than that I can't think of any further reason to going out of your way to catch it.
DeleteHI! First time commenter here (first time visitor, too). I saw "Unsane" last weekend and agree with your review. I hadn't heard much about it but my friend wanted to see it (and he ended up freaking out part way through) but I found it curiously not scary. It was almost predictable. I thought Claire Foy did a good job but for my money Juno Temple nailed her part.
ReplyDeleteHello there, B. - and a warm welcome to you! I'm honoured by your visit.
DeleteI should have mentioned Juno Temple because you are so right - she being a shining leading player in a cast of generally fine actors (wasn't so sure about Mr Longford, though).
No, the film wasn't much 'scary' in the usual sense of the word, though it did have the potential of being so. 'Derivative' is nearer the mark. If your friend 'freaked' out I can only assume that it was at the point where the entire edifice came tumbling down - the same point which caused me exasperation more than anything else. Still, I'm pleased that your reaction to the whole was similar to mine.
Claire Foy nonwithstanding, I can't imaging every wanting to see this. The shot entirely on iPhones sounds like a neat niche idea.
ReplyDeleteIt was trying to be a better film than it turned out, B. A little more care and imagination could have turned it into something special, but no.
DeleteAlthough others have commented on what they see as poor visual quality, I didn't notice that particularly - only the initially strange screen dimensions which didn't take long to get used to.
That looks absolutely dreadful (content wise, not the filming part of it). My next film to see is Beirut. I am not usually a Jon Hamm fan but I think I will like it. Opens next week, I believe. Will let you know my review...
ReplyDeleteNot hard of 'Beirut', Elle - and I see there's no release date given for an opening in U.K. Perhaps it won't get one here.
DeleteRay,
ReplyDeleteYou got to get an iPhone! I would be lost without mine. As people say when they get a car "I can't imagine my life without a car." Same here with my iPhone. That said, I would have a difficult time watching a movie made entirely on an iPhone. While the video and photos are excellent on iPhones, I don't think it is a suitable way to make a commercial movie. I wouldn't be able to concentrate on on the movie with that kind of production value"value".
I need someone to show me the ins and outs before I get one, Ron. I've got no friends or relatives here (or anywhere else) who could do that, and I'm nervous about going to a shop where, when they realise my complete ignorance on the subject, are going to rip me off with something I can ill afford, or even needing its versatility. I'm stuck in a quandary and don't know how to resolve it, but I am touched by your thoughts.
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