The Yellow Wallpaper

I usually stay away from horror films, but this one depicted insanity in a remarkable way. Beautifully shot in an authentic setting Alexandra Loreth shines as a tragic figure in a downward spiral fixated on wallpaper. The opening scene is so shocking I won't describe it here, but it was well-played and gut-renching all at once. The movie is a little slow, but well-directed.

I'm not sure how many times I've seen the Yellow Wallpaper adapted now. It's at least the third one, and wikipedia lists like 5 reasonably direct film adaptations. The story is justly regarded as a horror/feminist/short fiction classic, and I suppose because the author was a woman, it gets a lot of additional interest from the diversity and inclusion motive. I thought the 1977 short film was pretty good, though I haven't seen it in a long time. I think... a long format is maybe not the right way to go for a faithful adaptation. The author Gilman actually wrote nine novels, so I don't think she was incapable of long fiction, or disdainful of it, but yet she chose to write this as a short; and I have to trust that she knew what she was doing. Clearly, it's a literary classic, so... I dunno. Maybe we should trust the artist's judgement about the merits of brevity? I'm not too thrilled about the cinematography, but maybe they were just trying a lot of odd experiments with focus, camera angles, etc. To liven things up a bit. This is a slow, contemplative, meditative, cogitating, simmering, fermenting, rising in a pan in the corner, ripening, perambulating, gently unfolding film.

A stark and chilling account of mental illness that portrays the ways in which women of the 19th century were dismissed as hysterical when enduring postpartum depression. Staying true to the original story penned by Charlotte Perkins Gilman in 1890, the film features a riveting performance by lead actor, Alexandra Loreth (in her feature film debut), with stunning visual storytelling by director, Kevin Pontuti. A mood and atmosphere that lingers long after the credits have stopped rolling.

Lush exteriors, austere interiors, and the creepy music and sound set the scene. This treatment of the source material makes you wonder if we've progressed much since then about how we care for women who are suffering. Excellent work by everyone in front of and behind the camera.

I really enjoyed the premise of the story but my god the leading actress cannot act, she was dead like reading from a teleprompter. But I think movie revealed what it is like to go crazy especially during this time. Main character was suffering from postpartum, stuck in her mind, obsessing over minutia, unable to bond with her baby. It was pretty scary. I enjoyed the period costume and the lackluster home, devoid of comfort, bed in middle of room with windows always exposing, and the abundance of chipped paint. Silent tears of pain in exchange of screaming. I think the best acting came from the head servant who always had a look of dismay and disgust on her face. The other maid, didn't really have the look to fit in this movie.