Anna Kendrick

Wunmi Mosaku

Kaniehtiio Horn

Charlie Carrick

Markjan Winnick

Daniel Stolfi

Carolyn Fe

Gordon Harper

Viviana Zarrillo

Mairi Babb

Susan Applewhaite

Ethan Mitchell

James M. Jenkinson

Lindsay Leese

Toni Ellwand

Deborah Grover

Sara Bradeen

Farah Merani

Emily Abbate

Marissa Schwartz

Alice Searby

Jeremy Doiron

Caoimhe Clancy

Mark Van de Ven

Mary Nighy

Alanna Francis

Katie Bird Nolan

Lindsay Tapscott

Christina Piovesan

Noah Segal

Sam Tipper-Hale

Krista Bell

Gareth C. Scales

Jennifer Morden

Claudia Dall'Orso

Jessica Panetta

Nigel Turgeon-Mannion

Owen Pallett

Laurie May

Adrian Love

Coral Aiken

Lucy Larkin

James Lazarenko

Max MacDonald

Tristan Zerafa

Branko Racki

Avaah Blackwell

Yana Faie

Breanne Norris

Rob Shannon

Alison Almeida

Anubha Momin

Benjamin Hargreaves

Deena Nina

Devon Owens

Cristina M. Mitchell

Carlos Lopez

Cat Montgomery

Sarah Bryans

Todd Bolton

Rhiannon Dunets

Pascal Bennett

Jenna Allain

Colin Cameron

Karan Boparai

Adrian Vieni

Mike Pesut

Chase McConnell

Danny Patterson

James Arthurs

Samantha Falco

Ryan Haas

Matt Aitia

Robert Perreault

Stephane St-Pierre

Pauline Hachey

James Minarik

Peter Simovic

Ben Speir

Sean Steinman

Joseph Redbreast

Laura McArthur

Melissa A. Smith

Kassana Garraway

Meron Kebede

Celeste Morton

Lucifer Barbetta

Sam Ryan

Jasmine Merinsky

Israel Gracia

Suzanne Heibati

Paula Nevin

Paul Naiman

Daniel Vink

Semco Salehi

Scott Marleau

Christopher Hedrick

Brandon Fawkes

Jason Gill

Ryan MacKinnon

Donnie Blaze

Dustin Stillman

Nancy Gagliardi

Lori Casella

Gail George

Andrew McDonough

Ryan Birnberg

Alan Geldart

Aravind Sundar

Kyle Campbell

Jim Fleming

Matt Thibideau

Ryan MacNeill

Tess Moir

Thriller

Drama

Romance

Alice, Darling

Babe Nation Films

Elevation Pictures

Lionsgate

Canada

United States of America

English

friendship

psychological stress

female friendship

vacation

psychological abuse

intervention

manipulative lover

mental health

boyfriend girlfriend relationship

low self esteem

woman director

enduring friendship

perspective

breaking point

panic attack

abusive boyfriend

rediscovery

codependency

anxiety

independent film

best friends

psychological manipulation

mental abuse

cabin at a lake

loss of control

friend's birthday

Manuel São Bento

FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/alice-darling-review

"Alice, Darling brilliantly tackles the sensitive topic of abusive relationships. Alanna Francis' script stands out with a profound, respectful look into an emotionally disturbed Anna Kendrick - career-best performance - but also into the genuine best of female friendship.

A non-exploitative look into how psychological violence can be as traumatic as any other kind of physical abuse, as well as how insanely difficult it is to leave such a toxic relationship.

Mary Nighy cannot escape the subgenre's formulaic boundaries, but she should be proud of such an enlightening, impactful feature directorial debut."

Rating: B+

Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots

**By: Louisa Moore / www.ScreenZealots.com**

_This film was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival_

Having experienced a close friend stuck in an emotionally abusive relationship,” Alice, Darling” really hit home. It’s a story (by screenwriter Alanna Francis) that captures the realism of what it’s like as an observer, and what I can only imagine it feels like to be the person suffering in silence. This isn’t a movie that is pleasant to watch, but that’s not why it falters. The themes are absolutely important, but director Mary Nighy chooses a path that feels like an Afterschool Special with its overt messaging. This is what ultimately hurts the film.

Alice (Anna Kendrick) has found her dream man in Simon (Charlie Carrick). He’s handsome, successful, charming, and seems like a good boyfriend. When she agrees to reconnect with her two best friends Sophie (Wunmi Mosaku) and Tess (Kaniehtiio Horn) at a getaway to a quiet lake cottage, they begin to sense something isn’t right. The man is always checking up on her, texting all the time, and making their friend anxious and distant. After Alice spills that she had to lie to Simon and tell him that she’s on a business trip instead of a mini vacation, Tess and Sophie pry deeper. The truth comes to light as they learn that their best friend is trapped in an emotionally and psychologically abusive partnership.

Intimate stories like this expose important issues that are overwhelmingly specific to women. Too many of us know friends or family members who have been through a similar situation, and it speaks volumes that a good number of viewers will relate to this film on a more personal level. It’s easy to judge when it’s not happening to you, and the film is a wake-up call not only for those experiencing abuse to reach out, but for those around them to be alert and learn to spot the red flags that are so easy to miss.

When Nighy chooses to focus on the female friendships and characters, the film is at its best. Kendrick, Mosaku, and Horn have a natural rapport, which makes their performances feel real. Kendrick is especially heartbreaking, and her turn as an anxiety-ridden woman who feels trapped shows an impressive dramatic range. The actors do their best with this story of friendship and abuse, but the material makes for a tough transition from page to screen.

The film’s sluggish pacing is unnecessary, as are the half a dozen scenes of Alice pulling out her own hair. One, maybe two, would suffice and make the point, but Nighy keeps going. There’s also a distasteful subplot about a missing girl who is presumed to be dead. This story line serves as a heavy-handed metaphor that’s tacky and obnoxious, suggesting that is Alice doesn’t leave Simon, she’ll end up murdered in the woods someday, too. I found this component of the story to be so thoroughly off-putting that it overshadowed the rest of the film. The ending is borderline corny camp, too.

“Alice, Darling” tells an important story about how self doubt can be detrimental to finding the courage to stand up, let go, and move on. Too bad it isn’t more subtle (or effective) in its messaging.

Academy Conversations with Anna Kendrick and Alanna Francis

Official Trailer

Official Clip - 'Go Away'

ALICE, DARLING | TIFF 2022

Alice, Darling( 2022)

Sometimes the hardest thing to see is the truth.

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A review by Manuel São Bento

Written by Manuel São Bento on Fri Jan 20 2023

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