Rinascita

So many films these days suck you in with a really good start, keep you invested with a well developed middle, then let down with a poor or muddled ending. I still don't get this one at all. But worth it for Rebecca's monologue in the middle.

Saw this back at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival

"Resurrection" is a different kind of horror movie. It's more of a slow burn thriller that continues to make you feel tense and uncomfortable, yet captivating at the same time. Director Andrew Semans seems to understand how cinema works as his direction provides a great sense of suspension and thrills throughout the movie. With captaining camerawork and great performances from Rebecca Hall and Tim Roth. Hall is one of the my favorite underrated actresses even if she had been in some stinkers in the past as the same for Tim Roth. Roth always never fails to impress me with his stylish performances and personality he carries on his shoulders. Grace Kaufman was also really good as well.

The emotional impact of this film works well because of the writing. The writing creates many scenarios that felt creepy and filled with tension. There's even a scene where it's a 10 minute or so dialogue shot that focuses on the character for some time but it never feels boring because of the performance given to create a realistic approach of that scene. With great camerawork, production and interesting character development. It's not 100 percent perfect as there are some pacing issues halfway and certain moments that felt it could have been re written. In my opinion, the ending felt a little rushed as if they had ran out of time to finish filming the rest of the movie. Although these flaws appeared, the movie still was a really good fun experience.

Good Flick.

Rating: B+

Writer-Director Andrew Seaman's RESURRECTION is a dark psychological thriller about a single mother, Margaret (brilliantly essayed by Rebecca Hall) working at a pharmaceutical company. At first, her life seems orderly enough and she privately counsels a young intern at the firm, Gwyn (Angela Wong Carbone). Margaret's daughter Abbie (Grace Kaufman) is on the verge of turning 18 which causes some pre-emptory empty nest issues. Margaret is also carrying on an affair with a married man (Michael Esper). Tensions boil over when an Ex, David (Tim Roth; quietly malevolent), suddenly shows up in town.

Hall's performance is eerily intense from the start. An eight minute long uncut monologue reveals much of what her character is going though, and Hall commands the screen. As Margaret's concerns grow, the ante builds and builds into a mania. Hall's fervid acting becomes genuinely frightening intense. As the film reaches it's finale it is almost aggressively uncomfortable to watch. And, that's even BEFORE the movie reaches its actual climax!

RESURRECTION treads the line between straight drama, thriller and horror film only dipping into the latter at the very end (and quite graphically; the perverse symbolism will also turn-off some viewers). Hall's performance carries the movie on her back. It may not be a pleasant movie to view, but, she - and the movie -- will stick with you long after the end credits roll.

Watching this movie was chilling and absolutely terrible in the best possible way.

It is one of those movies that dares to put something on display that we, as viewers, really dont want to see - something unsettling. It doesnt feel good to watch - it is effective that way - and that is exactly why its brilliant.

In Resurrection we get no white picket fences or happily ever afters. Instead we are thrown into the deep end with serious matters such as deteriorating mental health, abuse, emotional suppression, gaslighting and grief. A woman (Rebecca Hall), who lives a seemingly successful life, stumbles upon a psychological trigger that starts an avalanche of past trauma.

Rebecca Hall's performance is breathtaking - hands down. The way this woman portrays the chaos of downward spiraling mental health while being a victim of gaslighting is both maddening and incredibly beautiful. At times it is so well done that it is hard to tell what is actually real and what is happening in her head.

Resurrection is absolutely worth a watch. FAIR WARNING THOUGH... if you yourself have experienced mental abuse it might be triggering and may not be an enjoyable watch for you.

Great acting, directing and cinematography cannot save what amounts to a big old nothing burger of a story/plot.

The film is very engaging to watch, sets were chosen well, Albany, NY makes an interesting backdrop.

But after we're fully introduced to the villain, the story stops making any rational sense. It's just not believable.