In a film that's 86 minutes long, the first quarter is sluggish exposition that's almost entirely unnecessary. By the time we're one-third in, the plot finally seems to begin, though up to that point we're also subjected to an unconvincing performance from lead Nicholas Wilder, and one or two scenes that don't actually make any sense. I love Chad Bernhard's score, lending tense, uneasy, atmosphere, and I appreciate the highly subdued tone of the film. Yet putting aside these highlights, it's not exactly a strong start.
Once the plot belatedly commences, strange occurrences gradually accumulate. And still these are interspersed with dubious scenes, and annoying dialogue and supporting characters. Maybe they're just deliberately holding their cards close to their chests, but with only a couple exceptions, the cast does not impress me. Given a small supporting part, I think Dee Wallace illustrates fantastic range and poise as Elton's (Wilder) beleaguered mother Susan. More than that - denied even a single line in the screenplay, Tristan Risk nonetheless offers up the best performance of the movie in the title role, wielding fantastic nuance and physical presence.
I like the premise; it's what drew me in. Yet 'Ayla' relies absolutely on subtlety as it weaves its tale. There's nothing wrong with that whatsoever: I've watched plenty of movies that worked with a similar underhanded tack and loved them. There's something highly rewarding about a feature filled with a superficial appearance of uneventfulness, or purposeful obfuscation, that masks hidden depths. Such an approach requires a dexterous hand to successfully pull off, however, and filmmaker Elias does not demonstrate the necessary refined touch here. That superficial appearance of uneventfulness turns out, in this instance, to simply be actual uneventfulness, and the lack of clarity in the narrative does not seem to belie the discreetly intelligent storytelling we'd wish.
I wanted to like this; I had high hopes. I think there are good ideas within. But the story takes totally too long to truly take off, and even once it does, the movie keeps us engaged mostly because we're desperately searching for something to deserve that attentiveness - and there is disappointingly little here that captures the imagination. I'd like to think other folks will get more out of 'Ayla' than I did, but I began watching with high expectations, only to see them brought frustratingly low.
Recommended for only the most patient and open-minded of viewers, but even that is debatable.
