Rating: 4 out of 5
“Alice, Darling,” a thriller directed by Mary Nighy, was released on Dec. 30, 2022, and follows the storyline of Alice (Anna Kendrick), a young woman stuck in an abusive relationship, and her journey from vulnerability and abuse to freedom. Alice’s character is portrayed as an emotionally battered woman as a result of her abusive relationship. Her closest friends, Sophie (Wunmi Mosaku) and Tess (Kaniehtiio Horn) have a vague idea of what goes on behind closed doors, and they encourage her to gain independence from her partner, Simon (Charlie Carrick). Through a trip to Sophie’s lakeside cottage that Alice makes with her companions, viewers are able to see her self-discovery come full circle.
Most of the movie is set in a quiet, rural town, where Alice spots a flier for a missing girl and the local case consumes her, although it is initially difficult to discern what the case is meant to provide to Alice and to the plot of the movie. However, this stray thread, completely separate from the main character’s life and her seemingly abusive relationship, ties the movie together quite well. Viewers can see her desperation to solve the case as a way for her to express her need to save other women from falling victim to abuse of any kind.
I liked that the script itself is subtle enough that viewers are unable to pinpoint the exact dynamic of the relationship between Alice and Simon, focusing less on Simon’s actions and more on the impact that their relationship has on Alice. She is constantly seen picking at her scalp, tugging at her hair, or playing with her fingernails as a way to release tension and stress. The director also does a particularly good job of using closer shots and specific lighting to focus on specific characters over the course of the movie, using darker lighting to set an overall darker tone.
However, as opposed to repeating the traditional abused and abuser trope, Nighy portrays Alice as a fragmented individual with the capability to express raw emotions. As opposed to having a fragile and submissive personality, Alice demonstrates realistic characteristics, including being disagreeable at times as a result of her irritable nature. Viewers are able to both empathize with and dislike the protagonist, which differs from the usual demure nature that victims of abuse are stereotypically depicted with. The story is authentic, as it is able to show Alice continually taking steps towards independence before returning back to her partner, causing the cycle to repeat itself.
Overall, I would recommend this movie to viewers who enjoy psychological thrillers, as this movie requires much analysis in order to understand the subtle characteristics and flaws that could be observed. The overall character development that occurs throughout the story is realistic and heartfelt, leaving readers with an impressionable ending.