Plot
Hana is a 20 something American med student who lives in Australia. She has a strained relationship with her parents, due to her being overweight.
When she runs into an old friend from her youth, who has had a dramatic weight loss, she discovers it is because of a secret drug. When she starts to lose weight, but the cost of the drugs is astronomical, she decides to make her own – and is surprised by the ingredient… human ash!!!
Having access to her training cadaver at school, she makes her own tablets!!! As her weight plummets – she discovers that she is being haunted by her cadaver, she has dubbed “Bertha”
Direction
Directed by Natalie Erika James , who I have previously reviewed her Rosemary’s Baby prequel – Apartment 7A.
I really enjoyed her visual styles here, as it had similar feel to other films I have reviewed in the past. The look and feel reminded me of Love Lies Bleeding, especially as it dealt with LGB+ relationships (in a both healthy and unhealthy way), as well as the diet/exercise/body dysmorphia themes.
The sound design was well done, especially with Bertha’s haunting, as well as Hana’s constant stomach churning because of her ingestion (very similar to The Ugly Stepsister).
Finally the theme of a main character wanting to change their body could be an homage to The Substance. Ironically, all three of those I have reviewed on my podcast… just like this one!!!
Cast
Midori Frances plays Hana. She does a solid job of portraying a ‘not so moral’ character, who you feel slightly conflicted about in the way she goes about her actions.
Danielle McDonald plays Josie, her best friend and fellow med student.
Madeleine Madden plays Alanya, the object of Hana’s affection.
Breakdown
Considering this was written by, directed by, and has its main star being American…. this feels very Australian. From the ‘setting’ which is an unnamed city (but filmed in Melbourne), to the suburban vibe of Hana’s parents home, to the way the characters converse with each other.
One of the strongest themes the film has going for it, is the way it portrays body dysmorphia. Hana is (slightly, and even skinnier than one of her friends) overweight – and has always struggled with this. Her relationship with food, has obviously stemmed from her overbearing and almost underweight mother – and it is revealed later in the film morbidly obese father.
Because of this, she tries many things, including being an avid gym goer, where she has fallen for the gym’s trainer Alanya. Alanya strongly encourages Hana to join a weight loss challenge as well. However, Hana has discovered from an old friend who has also lost a lot of weight about a ‘new’ drug that helps you lose weight. She starts taking it, and the weight starts dropping off.
Here is where the “horror” element kicks in. Hana, being a scientist, discovers that the drug is made up of human ash… and being a doctor, has access to cadaver parts (gross).
Because the drugs costs so much, she decides to make her own ‘ash’ and tablets, and the weight keeps dropping off… the only problem is now her cadaver… Bertha… is haunting her!!!
This starts a two pronged approach to the narrative… the haunting by Bertha – which could seemingly be in Hana’s head. We see the ghost the way Hana see’s it (in a convex reflection for some reason?), there is also the physical manifestation (as Hana loses the weight, Bertha gets bigger, and when she stands, sits or lies on things, the distribution of her weight is clearly noticeable. It is also shown to not be in her head too, as Bertha attacks Josie, as well as Hana’s mum Kimie at one stage. There is also the physical toll it has on Hana throughout the movie, with the constant gurgling sound from her stomach as Bertha “is in her” (this actually reminded me of the tapeworm sounds in The Ugly Stepsister).
It also has the “weight loss” and addiction element too. This is the more “human” part, where those around Hana become increasingly worried about her as her weight loss becomes too dramatic. It is actually genuinely great writing, and is the perfect blend of natural vs supernatural. It has a good message to it as well, and is similar to other body horror films like The Substance.
The relationship between Hana and those around her are examined throughout. Josie, Alanya, Kimmie and Dad Travis are all given plenty of time. Considering how much of the narrative is introduced so early, the almost two hour run time is a little much – and there really could have been some editing made. However the visuals at times are pretty stunning, and I really liked the attention to the sets, and the props (no name brands of foods etc).
The third act in which we discover who Bertha was, and why potentially she was haunting Hana (was she the cause of the pancreatic tumour, or was she trying to help find the pancreatic tumour?) is another addition to a very long film. At two hours, it is slightly too long.
The final few seconds of the film are genuinely shocking, and leaves the film slightly open ended. Some pun intended…
Overall
Pretty solid “body horror” film, that has at the core of it, is a good display of how body dysmorphia can make people do questionable things. Some great visuals, and a genuinely shocking ending. One problem is it is a little long, and could have done with some editing.
Still a recommend.
3.5/5
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