Allure

Both actresses sell their roles beautifully. Here, it is the script and screenplay that just doesn't fly. Not helping at all were the many scenes in this film that were photographed with such dim lighting that it was hard to see what was going on! You really had to work hard to watch this movie.....literally. Screenwriter and film students will want to watch this one to know what NOT to do.

The two main actresses in this movie are wonderful. Especially Evan Rachel wood as a spiraling lonely woman. This movie captures how relationships can quickly turn toxic and abusive. It shows broken and lost souls trying to find love and happiness. It's not a feel good movie, but if you enjoy character driven films it's great.

Laura (Evan Rachel Wood) is a house cleaner. She's troubled and sexually promiscuous. She starts a new job at a family home and befriends the teenage pianist daughter Eva (Julia Sarah Stone). Eva runs away from home and lives with Laura.

This has the greatness of Evan and a nice newcomer in Julia. The plot is pretty thin and some scenes are too quiet for stretches. Sometimes, it's giving these characters room to breathe. Sometimes, it's a slow nothingness. I like the movie but I would definitely condense it to give it more intensity. Also the filmmakers don't seem to know how to elevate the danger. The movie needs to pump up the tension especially with the first thirty minutes. It needs to squeeze in some higher stakes in every scene. This indie has a few smaller indie awards but it's not good enough to get to a higher level.

If you've ever experienced an emotionally abusive relationship, this movie will probably ring true. I was intrigued by the way Laura was portrayed: not as a villainous one-dimensional abuser, but a woman in pain and inflicting pain. Evan Rachel Wood and Julia Sarah Stone had a great frenetic chemistry. Wood's obvious mental fractures and Stone's fear/sympathy combined to make a potent tension throughout. Many long, thoughtful silences and static shots. The camera work was brilliant. This isn't one of those films you'd pop in the DVD player on a Friday night, but I would recommend it for anyone seeking a quality character study.

Evan Rachel Wood plays a very troubled character.

She is suffering, she is in pain.

We watch her interactions with other characters without understanding fully what is going on - we have to piece this together like a mystery because in fact it is.

It's a film that will bring viewers together afterwards for a discussion.

Fortunately she was at my screening to help with my questions.

Thanks to her, her co-stars and the filmmakers for accompanying it to 2017 Tiff.