Plot
Iris, a young woman who has recently lost her son – decides to go to the place he died, to ‘end it all’. Before she can, she meets “Richard” a suave man who is seemingly able to talk her into ‘continuing’ on. Soon after however he injects her with a poison that in 20 minutes will paralyse her. She now must get away from him before the poison takes its full effect.
Direction
Directed by Adam Schindler and Brian Netto. Both have worked in either television, making ‘shorts’ or smaller films solo.
They do some solid work, as for a good portion of the film takes place within cars while characters are either talking, or in one stage having a fight.
There is also some clever use of showing Iris’ point of view as she is fully paralysed, from varying positions, such as lying on a floor behind a couch and seeing the feet of two men as they talk.
Cast
Featuring some cast who I have not come across before, there is Kelsey Asbille as Iris.
She is solid considering her character is unable to move or talk for roughly half the film – barely able to communicate non verbally. She has mostly been known for some television work such as Fargo and Yellowstone.
Finn Wittrock, from American Horror story plays Richard. I loved his ability to go from the suave, and seemingly decent to utterly terrifying. He reminded me of Copycat‘s William McNamara with his boyish good looks who is frightening at the same time.
Moray Treadwell plays Bill, a man who comes across a paralysed Iris who tries to help her – before Richard catches up to them.
Breakdown
Starting with the cold open, we don’t know too much about the lead character. She leaves her phone at home, to go for a drive out of the suburbs, into the rural mountain area. She passes by a memorial of a small boy – and then stands on the edge of a very high cliff.
The dialogue free opening is broken by the arrival of Richard – who despite her obvious signs of wanting to be alone, breaks her down, where she reveals that her son died when he fell due to her letting him out of her sight. Blaming herself, she wants to go too – but Richard actually gives solid advice (and half decent dialogue) – that just because she’s broken, it doesn’t mean she’s helpless. She too gives good dialogue with the world just takes what it wants sometimes. Feeling as if she is good to continue, they walk each other down the mountain, where he quickly changes character – by both electrocuting her, and then stabbing her with a needle that has a paralytic drug. In 20 minutes she will be unable to move or talk!
She quickly gets away from him by jumping down the river.
I genuinely enjoyed the next parts of the narrative, where she is found by farmer named Bill (at the last minute while he is on his lawn mower getting closer and closer!), Bill’s quick ability to communicate with her through her blinking, the tense moments where Richard shows up to Bill’s cabin and seemingly discovers that Bill is hiding Iris (poor Bill), and then the moments with the poor police officer who suspects something is up with the mute Iris.
As she ‘slowly’ starts to get some of her abilities back, there is a sound ‘foreshadowing’ moment between Richard and Iris, which gives a glimpse of why he is the way he is, and why he only kills women.
There are some moments that do drag, and Richard’s inability to get the upper hand at times are clearly just for the movie. I didn’t buy that Richard would have a genuine family, and this really added nothing to the point of the movie – or added anything more to his character.
I quite liked Iris’ ‘upper hand’ moment at the end, as well as her throwback to his “Thank You”. She comes full circle within the film, wanting to die at the start of the film, and what Richard puts her through makes her want to live.
Overall
Pretty decent thriller, with a good set up, and solid villain.
A little slow paced at times in the middle, and some somewhat wooden performances from some supporting cast. I
All in all, a recommend which will get you through a rainy night in if you have one.
3.5/5
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