In the near future where parenthood is strictly controlled, a couple's seven-day assessment for the right to have a child unravels into a psychological nightmare.In the near future where parenthood is strictly controlled, a couple's seven-day assessment for the right to have a child unravels into a psychological nightmare.In the near future where parenthood is strictly controlled, a couple's seven-day assessment for the right to have a child unravels into a psychological nightmare.
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Indira Varma
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Featured reviews
Given the rating that was 6.9 at the time, I expected much better than I received. In short, You're told that the world has split into two. One where the air is purified somehow and the old which was soiled. Almost nothing is told about this process and the film tries to stick to just one issue. People are limited to having no children unless given permission. An assessor will come to the house to determine whether a child may be produced. In comes Alicia vikander.
She then proceeds to act like a child for much of the rest of the movie. At times it is incredibly silly and not believable. The actors do a fantastic job in selling the concept, but but she goes in and out of character at times that you don't know which version she is and the characters are understandably confused. Some of the reactions of the adults supposedly treating a child are understandable because they aren't dealing with a child. The test is inherently itself, not fair but you're asked to go along with it. But there was one absolutely ridiculous test, in which the answer is blatantly obvious to everyone but the tested person. Perhaps they thought it was a good idea on paper but it was executed so painfully that it was difficult to watch. There are also many holes in this script.
Minnie driver steals the show in the one scene that she appears. But in the end, which is rushed badly, you get to find out some answers which is standard dystopia. I didn't find redeeming qualities about this film whatsoever. The moral of the story is raising children can be a difficult experience. And the rest of the science fiction element is completely unexplored. It's only there to create cool effects and provide a reason for the assessment.
I completely admire the fine performances by the actors. But this bit of silliness is 2 hours of time. I really wish I had back. If you're a fan of frilly artistic portrayal with lots of diversity as part of our future, you might appreciate this. But it is completely superficial.
She then proceeds to act like a child for much of the rest of the movie. At times it is incredibly silly and not believable. The actors do a fantastic job in selling the concept, but but she goes in and out of character at times that you don't know which version she is and the characters are understandably confused. Some of the reactions of the adults supposedly treating a child are understandable because they aren't dealing with a child. The test is inherently itself, not fair but you're asked to go along with it. But there was one absolutely ridiculous test, in which the answer is blatantly obvious to everyone but the tested person. Perhaps they thought it was a good idea on paper but it was executed so painfully that it was difficult to watch. There are also many holes in this script.
Minnie driver steals the show in the one scene that she appears. But in the end, which is rushed badly, you get to find out some answers which is standard dystopia. I didn't find redeeming qualities about this film whatsoever. The moral of the story is raising children can be a difficult experience. And the rest of the science fiction element is completely unexplored. It's only there to create cool effects and provide a reason for the assessment.
I completely admire the fine performances by the actors. But this bit of silliness is 2 hours of time. I really wish I had back. If you're a fan of frilly artistic portrayal with lots of diversity as part of our future, you might appreciate this. But it is completely superficial.
I had heard nothing about this movie except for seeing it on a list of recommended recent sci-fi movies and then seeing the great ratings. I would say it's more "sci-fi ish"; at it's core though it is a fantastic dystopian psychological thriller. All 3 main actors are doing a phenomenal job here (I wish we'd see Alicia Vikander in more stuff!) and it kept me engaged from beginning to end, even the scenes that are less easy to watch. I absolutely recommend it!
Alicia Vikander was already part of a dystopian Sci-Fi drama once (Ex Machina). Now she gets a totally different part in a film that feels like another "Black Mirror" episode and a good one also, nevertheless. From a first gaze of the movie's poster, I wasn't so sure, but when it had ended...so good.
The future, if to be franc and honest, is already here. Dystopian content is almost not any news and more and more films about dark future are rolling in our doorstep. This one is another that speaks about class differences, with a different direction and point of view.
Both Mia and Arian are well educated couple, that contributes to the well-being of the society. Both want to have a child, but the reality which they are living in does not allow reproduction. The government forbids children without supervision which validates that both candidates are suitable to raise children.
The supervision if from an assessor, which lives full week with the couple and determines at its end whether they are capable or not. Meanwhile, the rest of civilization are living in a wasteland and are being treated differently. This part is just mentioned in words and being seen for a very short period of time from the movie, towards the end of it.
The execution of the film was brilliant, and the performances were just outstanding. The plot had several holes and subjects that weren't properly delt, but the final outcome was a movie about parenting experience, fears, anxieties and the complications with being parents in some different magnitude.
This movie was also about the race we are falling behind in - real world against Artificial intelligence. It got its fair share of different type of anxieties, towards a future that is really unclear, but well predicted by a lot of artists in the movies industry.
Elizabeth Olsen's performance was magnetizing. She ruled this movie with so much depth. Himesh Patel was great also, but both female characters were the main issue here. Finally, the biggest performance of all - Alicia Vikander. Wow. I can't stress enough how good she was and was worth watching just for her side of the plot and her performances' weight in the movie.
The movie ended kind of sloppy for me, at least, but it was worth each and every minute of my time and I cannot understand why it got such a low grade. Maybe for being a little bit misunderstood. Maybe the ones who didn't understand it need a re-watch.
The future, if to be franc and honest, is already here. Dystopian content is almost not any news and more and more films about dark future are rolling in our doorstep. This one is another that speaks about class differences, with a different direction and point of view.
Both Mia and Arian are well educated couple, that contributes to the well-being of the society. Both want to have a child, but the reality which they are living in does not allow reproduction. The government forbids children without supervision which validates that both candidates are suitable to raise children.
The supervision if from an assessor, which lives full week with the couple and determines at its end whether they are capable or not. Meanwhile, the rest of civilization are living in a wasteland and are being treated differently. This part is just mentioned in words and being seen for a very short period of time from the movie, towards the end of it.
The execution of the film was brilliant, and the performances were just outstanding. The plot had several holes and subjects that weren't properly delt, but the final outcome was a movie about parenting experience, fears, anxieties and the complications with being parents in some different magnitude.
This movie was also about the race we are falling behind in - real world against Artificial intelligence. It got its fair share of different type of anxieties, towards a future that is really unclear, but well predicted by a lot of artists in the movies industry.
Elizabeth Olsen's performance was magnetizing. She ruled this movie with so much depth. Himesh Patel was great also, but both female characters were the main issue here. Finally, the biggest performance of all - Alicia Vikander. Wow. I can't stress enough how good she was and was worth watching just for her side of the plot and her performances' weight in the movie.
The movie ended kind of sloppy for me, at least, but it was worth each and every minute of my time and I cannot understand why it got such a low grade. Maybe for being a little bit misunderstood. Maybe the ones who didn't understand it need a re-watch.
The Assessment is a Sci-fi drama Starring Elizabeth Olsen and Himesh Patel as Mia and Aaryan, a couple who want a child in the future are given a 7 day test by an assessor,(Alicia Viklander) who make the test possible and if no slip ups occur a baby will be gifted, but the expected-to-be parents see that this is harder than they expected.
Given strength by strong acting and unique premise, The Assessment is something I didn't really expect plot-wise but I think it was made brilliantly. The film is set in a format of Days 1-7 and each one is as different and engaging as the other. Honestly I was expecting this to reuse sci-fi tropes from the past, but I got to say that this is so original and unexpected I think it was done super well! The way everything connects and what the couple have to do is portrayed so well to the point that this might be what the most likely cause of creating children will be in a effected world of climate change.
Performances do not disappoint, Elizabeth Olsen and Himesh Patel were so good they probably could've been on their own with a entirely different plotline and it would have been just as captivating. But Alicia Viklander is also very good and to be honest, she's very good at the whole sci-fi genre and to see her here was a delight. Just everyone involved did their best and I really appreciate that with a film that doesn't really rely on CGI to be as creative as it is.
However, the film is graphic in some places in terms of sex and disturbing interactions from Alica Viklander's character acting like a child in a older woman's body gave me Poor Things vibes. But that doesn't matter really and it's essential to the plot but this is definitely for an older audience and I can definitely imagine this being an easy R or 15/18 in the UK if anyone is interested.
Overall, while some characters don't have much resolved plotlines the ones that do are created and performed so well it's hard to find anything bad about The Assessment. Definitely a one you must go and see when it comes out in mid 2025 I would highly recommend this amazing and creative piece of art when it hits cinemas.
Grade: A+
London Film Festival October 19th.
Given strength by strong acting and unique premise, The Assessment is something I didn't really expect plot-wise but I think it was made brilliantly. The film is set in a format of Days 1-7 and each one is as different and engaging as the other. Honestly I was expecting this to reuse sci-fi tropes from the past, but I got to say that this is so original and unexpected I think it was done super well! The way everything connects and what the couple have to do is portrayed so well to the point that this might be what the most likely cause of creating children will be in a effected world of climate change.
Performances do not disappoint, Elizabeth Olsen and Himesh Patel were so good they probably could've been on their own with a entirely different plotline and it would have been just as captivating. But Alicia Viklander is also very good and to be honest, she's very good at the whole sci-fi genre and to see her here was a delight. Just everyone involved did their best and I really appreciate that with a film that doesn't really rely on CGI to be as creative as it is.
However, the film is graphic in some places in terms of sex and disturbing interactions from Alica Viklander's character acting like a child in a older woman's body gave me Poor Things vibes. But that doesn't matter really and it's essential to the plot but this is definitely for an older audience and I can definitely imagine this being an easy R or 15/18 in the UK if anyone is interested.
Overall, while some characters don't have much resolved plotlines the ones that do are created and performed so well it's hard to find anything bad about The Assessment. Definitely a one you must go and see when it comes out in mid 2025 I would highly recommend this amazing and creative piece of art when it hits cinemas.
Grade: A+
London Film Festival October 19th.
I liked this movie a lot.
It resembles the work of Alex Garland, and the premise is pretty much a possible scenario in the not-so-distant future.
But is it worth watching? Well, it depends.
It has a good story, talented actors, and beautiful photography, as well as great design.
Buuuut without any spoilers there's not much explanation of the time they live in.
The starting point was already built off-screen, so to say.
Anyway, its focus is on the dynamics between the trio, and it's more of a psychological/existential thriller.
Though maybe the third act makes the movie too long, I would have liked it to ended earlier, but my criteria are to like cliffhangers and open ends... Not a popular parameter
I recommend it!
It resembles the work of Alex Garland, and the premise is pretty much a possible scenario in the not-so-distant future.
But is it worth watching? Well, it depends.
It has a good story, talented actors, and beautiful photography, as well as great design.
Buuuut without any spoilers there's not much explanation of the time they live in.
The starting point was already built off-screen, so to say.
Anyway, its focus is on the dynamics between the trio, and it's more of a psychological/existential thriller.
Though maybe the third act makes the movie too long, I would have liked it to ended earlier, but my criteria are to like cliffhangers and open ends... Not a popular parameter
I recommend it!
Did you know
- TriviaDirector Fleur Fortune and production designer Jan Houllevigue intentionally used minimal wood furniture and wood accents as part of the set because there are no forests left in this timeline. Instead everything was made of concrete and stained glass and purposefully given a "70s retro feel" to make it feel more relatable to audiences, versus the obvious sci-fi look - white, minimal, clinical - which would have come off as too futuristic.
- SoundtracksPretty Fly - Part 1 and 2
From La nuit du chasseur (1955)
Composed by Walter Schumann
Published by Bourne Co.
US PRO: ASCAP
ISWC#: T9032707145
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Also known as
- The Assessment
- Filming locations
- Arico Viejo, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain(on location)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $8,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $279,328
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $152,905
- Mar 23, 2025
- Gross worldwide
- $279,328
- Runtime
- 1h 54m(114 min)
- Color
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