47. Alice, Darling; movie review

 

ALICE, DARLING

Cert 15

89 mins

BBFC advice: Contains  domestic abuse, very strong language, strong sex

I have long admired Anna Kendrick but I wonder whether she has ever been this good in a movie.

And that might be because Alice, Darling is apparently very close to her heart as a former victim of emotional bullying.

Kendrick plays the title character who is scared witless of her long-term boyfriend, Simon. (Charlie Carrick).

He effectively sees her as a possession and controls her by bombarding her with phone messages even when she is out with friends.

The fall-out manifests itself in her hurting herself and suffering from a food disorder.

She is so fearful of her partner's reaction that she tells him a lie to cover for a week away at a lakeside cabin with her pals (Kaniehtiio Horn and Wunmi Mosaku).

However, she cannot break away from his spell and, much to their consternation, she is distant, bordering on hostile because of the grip he has.

Mary Nighy's movie shows how emotional abuse can pierce a victim's psyche, prompting her to continually question her own worth.

She cannot see that her partner is enjoying the power of dominating her.

Alice is also in denial about how the tension of her relationship is affecting her interaction with others but, as said, this becomes clear during the girls' week away.

Clearly, friends and family will believe they have an easy answer to anyone in Alice's situation - just walk away.

But, as Nighy's film shows, it isn't that easy.

Alice, Darling is a hard and, at times, upsetting watch but it may just help save a soul. It is worth watching with that in mind and for Kendrick's portrayal.

Reasons to watch: Anna Kendrick is great

Reasons to avoid: A hard watch

Laughs: One

Jumps: One

Vomit: Yes

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 8/10

Did you know? National Coalition Against Domestic Violence believes, on average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men. There are no recorded statistics for emotional violence.

The final word. Mary Nighy: "Rather than being your typical film about a violent man, it was very much focusing on what the female character experiences. And I thought that that was quite powerful and also quite important, in a way, for people to be aware that this is happening, that emotional abuse does happen and to focus on the woman rather than the man." Screen Rant

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