After watching this film, I had to google its plot since I couldn't fully grasp what really happened. The film depended largely on wordless performance and a little bit of flashback. Surprisingly, there were lots of positive reviews about this film but I beg to differ. I didn't find this film intriguing in any way.
I initially opted for it because it was of the horror genre and although horror films these days are exaggerated, without a good backstory, but rely heavily instead on jump scares, I thought this one would be different. I got frustrated from the first 20 minutes of this film.
I hate it when a film makes me feel unintelligent. I had questions for almost every scene but found no answers till I checked google and that's ridiculous. A good film should provide at least subtle answers to the questions it raises.
Synopsis
Brynn Adams (Kaitlyn Dever) lives a secluded life in a small, judgmental town, haunted by a tragic incident in her past. While she struggles with loneliness and alienation, her world is upended when an extraterrestrial invasion begins. Forced to confront the alien threat while dealing with her own emotional scars, Brynn embarks on a relentless fight for survival. The story unfolds with minimal dialogue, relying heavily on Brynn’s expressive journey and the film’s rich visual storytelling.
I was able to come up with this after carrying out research on the film.
My Review and Rating
I'd give it to them based on the atmosphere they were able to create for this film. It was perfect for a horror film.
Starring Kaitlyn Dever, I expected a lot but I got subpar. This film's reliance on wordless performance in my opinion was unnecessary. I think the use of dialogue would have made it a lot more interesting.
I was also frustrated with the female lead character. There was no clue as to what was going on with her. I had so many questions about her life but I was left dissatisfied when the credits rolled without an answer.
Where did the aliens come from and how? That little information was eluded.
It's sad I couldn't sympathize with Brynn. I wanted so badly to sympathize with her vulnerability but I couldn't because I was lost trying to figure out what was really going on with her and why she was haunted by aliens.
The aliens themselves, on the other hand, seemed too familiar in appearance. I wasn't frightened in any way by their so-called advanced technology or relentless pursuit. There was no palpable dread anywhere. Neither did I find them mysterious. It seemed like an apocalypse joke.
One thing I know is that this film explores themes of guilt, grief and forgiveness but there was no emotional depth to any of these themes.
I'd leave it with a ⅖ rating. It is absurd being so relaxed while watching a horror film.
Do I recommend it? I guess. You may have a different view of the film. We all view things with different lenses and our understanding may differ. So check it out if you will.