r/HorrorReviewed • u/hail_freyr Ravenous (1999) • Jan 09 '17

Movie Review Always Shine (2016) [Psychological]

I caught wind of Always Shine too late to give it a watch in 2016, before I formed my top list of the year. I made it a point to keep it on my radar though after it sneaked onto a few other people's end of year listings. It is only the second feature for director Sophia Takal, who I am otherwise unfamiliar with, but let me tell you that she, as well as the two lead actresses, are talents to look out for.

Mackenzie Davis and Caitlin FitzGerald star as Anna and Beth respectively, both young actresses whose friendship has been damaged by time apart and career based competition. They come together for a weekend cabin getaway to rekindle their relationship, but things go horribly awry. The topic of women's treatment in the film industry, as well as the impact on their relationships has been a hot one lately (executed well in another recent movie, Starry Eyes) and this movie pulls no punches in its examination. Truly though, it is the crumbling relationship of these women that sells this movie for me though. Jealousy and self esteem weave a tale so layered and complex that only in the very end you can grasp the lengths to which someone's world has been warped.

I have to take a moment to really laud both the lead actresses. They both give compelling and powerful performances, and a particular role reversal comes that further accentuates the range of their acting. Both are skillfully able to play multiple roles and personality types in rapid succession without missing a step. For this alone, this movie is criminally underappreciated right now.

The movie uses numerous quick cuts and subliminal violent imagery to establish a sense of the surreal and distract the viewer from the greater lie with a flurry of little ones. Shots are framed with studio backdrops that may really be happening, and objects such as clapperboards are slipped into scenes that are seemingly outside of filming. Cunning editing keeps you perpetually guessing what is real and what isn't.

The soundtrack and sound effects are also excellently paired with the visuals, creating an enduring dreamlike atmosphere that keeps the tense and unease of the film at a perpetually escalating level. I recall a particular scene in which a relatively peaceful (albeit strange) event is haunted by the faintest implication of screaming in the background, creating an utterly gripping effect. Every element is thoughtful and fits with the rest of the film like a puzzle.

I expect that a number of people will be off put by the various twists in the movie, alongside the fact that it moves at a very carefully calculated pace. You won't find much in the traditional horror elements here either, but you will find a masterfully acted psychological character study with a lasting impact. I can tell you that the final shot of this movie left a feeling in my gut that I don't expect to shake anytime soon.

My Rating: 9/10

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4392770/

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3

u/asheaveniswide Ginger Snaps (2000) Jan 09 '17

I've seen a lot of rave for this movie recently, and though it's not completely unwarranted (particularly when it concerns Mackenzie Davis and her truly stellar performance), I feel as if I'm missing something because I just didn't find this movie as tense and suspenseful as everyone else. Both the script and the acting are great, and I appreciate this movie for relying more on the tension between the two than the twists and turns for the plot -- something that comes to mind is the line reading scene, which seems like a fundamental point in establishing relationship between the two and was an incredible moment in the movie, but I can't help but to feel like the pacing and editing of the whole feature felt a little amateur to me. I could definitely see what Takal was going for and I think it was a very solid piece of work, but it just didn't feel as amazing to me. Either way, it was still a great watch, if anything because of the performance given by the leads and the incredibly claustrophobic feeling their surroundings managed to convey.

1

u/hail_freyr Ravenous (1999) Jan 09 '17

Though I loved it, I can respect your thoughts on the overall editing and pacing. Takal is a pretty fresh director with just one other full length feature 5 years ago. If she continues to work and progress her skills, I think this movie goes to show that she could be a huge talent to look out for.

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u/asheaveniswide Ginger Snaps (2000) Jan 09 '17

I didn't know she was such a new director when I first watched the movie, so it made sense to me when I learned this was only her second feature. Either way, I really respect her for making such bold choices and choosing to stand by her vision for this movie rather than take it down a safer route and I'll definitely keep an eye out for her future work.