Unsane

Steven Soderbergh's 2018 psychological-horror film Unsane (2018), shot entirely with the iPhone in just 10 days, is an interesting take on the genre. Centering around a woman who is involuntarily committed to a mental hospital, we constantly are in a state of questioning whether or not she is really as crazy as we are led to believe. The choice to film it on merely iPhone lends an incredibly unique look and feel to the story, often seeing people from POV shots and bizarre angles. Coupled with the ambient music, the film is incredibly atmospheric and invites you to see things from the perspective of Claire Foy's character. Unsettling, well-acted and uniquely directed but so-so in the execution of the story. Nonetheless, a cool experiment from Soderbergh.

Shot completely with IPhone 7plus in 4k, steven soderberg's experimental b-movie is a real, slow and annoying psychological gesture throughout.

Eerie cinematography, unsettling atmosphere and curious characterizations take on U.S Psychiatric institutions deception makes it one of those crazy movies.

Have to be honest, I had no idea this was filmed on an iPhone 7 or that it was directed by Steven Soderbergh. I was stuck for something to watch on cable the other night and I liked the sound of the plot premise. So unburdened by expectation of a searing horror classic I settled in to see what unfolds.

Plot has Claire Foy as Sawyer Valentini who inadvertently commits herself to a mental health institution. Once inside things being to unravel and the threat of her one time stalker now being even close to her opens up the book of terror - but is it real?

Firstly you have to say that the mental health authorities must have had kittens when they saw this, much of what is on screen is utterly ridiculous and paints the system in a damning light. Secondly you really have to jump on board with the improbability of it all, this really is made for dramatic entertainment purpose and not as a viable horror of the real world.

As a thriller it worked for me, the constant question of what is real or not keeps things on the slow burn. Either way, real or not, it's thought provoking enough to warrant staying till pics end. The psychological angle is pungent enough to say there's some thought in the writing, though this is undone by utter nonsense as things spiral into the impossible for the final quarter of film.

Foy is good value up front and the fulcrum of it all, while elsewhere good work comes from Nate Hoffman and it's nice to see Juno Temple in a spicy role. Ultimately this is no blood letting horror picture, and certainly it's no One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, Girl Interrupted etc etc.

The iPhone experiment is a gimmick that works here due to the confines of the location for story, but as a genre piece of worth it is unlikely to have legs. However, even though I enjoyed this as a one time only viewing experience, I perfectly understand why it has become divisive. So for those who haven't seen it yet then it is advised you understand this is no terrifying thrill a minute piece. It's tricky to recommend with any sort of confidence, and thus I feel the internet ratings of about 6.5/10 is just about right. 6.5/10

Up until I saw it in theaters, I knew Unsane exclusively as the movie that was shot on an iPhone. I knew it was directed by Steven Soderbergh, who's given us such films as Ocean's Eleven and Logan Lucky. However, I knew nothing about the plot or really what kind of genre of film this was. All I knew was that it had been filmed on an iPhone. While that's certainly interesting, and I was definitely curious to see how it would look on the big screen, I couldn't help but think of it exclusively as a gimmick. I sounded like Unsane was saying, "Hey guys, we're the movie that was filmed on an iPhone! Be sure to check us out because that's cool!". That's not a good thing for a movie to do, so that did make me a little hesitant going into the film. However, surprisingly enough, the fact that this movie was filmed on an iPhone actually enhances it, to the point where the same effect could not have been captured on a regular camera. While it does lack a bit in story, and there are some wooden performances and some cheesy dialogue, the camera work done by Soderbergh himself is incredible, especially all the innovative ways he uses the iPhone to shoot a completely unique-looking movie...

'Unsane' seemed to me like it had real potential to be a good film. It looked intriguing, it was interesting to see how it would fare being shot on an IPhone (though part of me was a little apprehensive, being concerned it would be handled amateurishly), the trailer looked great, like Claire Foy a lot and the idea was for me one of the best and most unique of the year.

On the most part, while the polarising critical reception is more than understandable, 'Unsane' works. It is an uneven film and should have been better than it was with the final third and ending being a let down. On the other hand, much of it was very well done with a terrific first half that showed so much promise. Am going to hold nothing about those who didn't like it, being one who agrees with a few of their criticisms.

Starting with what 'Unsane' does right, it surprisingly looks good. Was worried as to whether the IPhone technique would be done in an amateurish fashion but actually it was atmospheric and surprisingly tasteful, enhancing the already unsettling claustrophobia seen also in the setting. The music is haunting and wisely not constant as well as never intrusive. Soderburgh's direction is deliberate yet tight, letting the atmosphere speak for itself.

The first half is terrific, slow-burning but creepy, subtly suspenseful and sometimes quirky, blurring reality and delusions with plenty of unsettlement, panic, claustrophobia and thoughtful representation of a difficult subject. The cast are on top form, the best thing about 'Unsane' being Claire Foy, mixing fragility, unhinging, sarcasm, insincerity and also sincerity it is a spectacularly good performance of an complicated character that one is scared of but also in a way sympathetic to. It is easy to overlook the rest of the cast, but they are also very good playing against type, Joshua Leonard, Juno Temple and Jay Pharoah do great jobs.

However, it is a shame that the film changes tone in the final third in particular and it is really jarring and the quality is significantly inferior. The film works better as a psychological drama/horror, while it turns thriller, it becomes overblown, rushed and far fetched. The ending is a let down, too easily foreseeable, anti-climactic and far too conventional for a premise as unique as this one.

Some of the dialogue is on the ropy side and Matt Damon's cameo was out of place, unnecessary and just plain weird, reeking of self-indulgence.

Overall, worth seeing. Uneven but with a lot of great merits. 7/10 Bethany Cox