It’s a rare feeling to come out of a movie thinking that people need to watch it, and it’s a sad feeling to know that the people that would benefit the most aren’t necessarily the ones who will. ALICE, DARLING follows Alice (Anna Kendrick) on a week-long trip with her still-close childhood friends, Tess and Sophie, in a subtlety tense departure from her emotionally abusive partner, Simon.
Bolstered by impressive performances from the small cast, ALICE, DARLING is an emotional and powerful movie with a lot to say in its 90-minute runtime. It can be hard to identify an abusive relationship if you’re in one, and because these relationships often encourage severing ties with friends and loved ones, hard to find people to spot the signs. In addition to the acting, the writing and story feel raw and realistic, adding weight to the abuse Alice faces.
ALICE, DARLING may not be a perfect movie – there’s a subplot I don’t fully understand, and because the film takes place mainly in one location, it felt a bit like a play – but given the powerful performances and message, I’d recommend it.
ALICE, DARLING is now playing in AMC theaters.
