New to buy on video-on-demand platforms in the UK this week, is the psychological drama-thriller, Alice, Darling. The movie – directed by Mary Nighy – stars Anna Kendrick, Kaniehtiio Horn, Wunmi Mosaku, and Charlie Carrick, and follows the story of a woman who is locked into a controlling relationship with her abusive boyfriend.
In the movie, Alice is in a long-term relationship with artist Simon. The pair live together, and have built a life with each other, but it is a life which is toxic and suffocating.
Simon controls how Alice thinks, acts, and responds. He wants her to do everything that he requires, when he requires it, and she continually goes along with his requests, to make things easier on herself.
Alice doesn’t tell anyone about Simon’s behaviour – not even her best friends Tess and Sophie. This is something which proves very tricky, when Alice is invited to a birthday getaway, being organised for Tess, and she feels conflicted about whether to go or not.
Ultimately, Alice does decide to attend, but in order to take the trip she lies to Simon about her whereabouts. Over the course of the next few days, she contemplates her decision, and her relationship with her boyfriend, now there is some distance between them.
Dark, a little depressing, but very powerful, Alice, Darling is an interesting picture about emotional abuse and the impact it can have on those who are subjected to it. The movie looks at the way in which one person can influence another, to change the way they act or view the world, and the damage and distress it causes.
Anna Kendrick takes on the titular role of Alice, who is the victim in this movie, and throughout the picture she is sent on an emotional rollercoaster of thoughts and feelings. The psychological abuse she has suffered from Simon has taken its toll, and when the character is first introduced at the beginning of the movie, it is clear she is in a very troubling place.
I should add that Kendrick plays this role brilliantly. She makes Alice very relatable, yet incredibly damaged, and working with director Mary Nighy the two bring a great deal of vulnerability to the screen.
Kendrick is this movie’s biggest asset, and she nails her part. You can’t help but feel for Alice, and her ongoing dilemma, and this is largely because of just how good Kendrick is in the role.
Her ability to switch between confidence and fear is perfectly handled. The way she reacts to different situations feels very authentic, and this infuses the movie with tension and atmosphere.
Where Alice, Darling also shines is in its depiction of sisterhood and friendship. A large part of this movie is the way in which her friends rally round her, when they learn the truth about her relationship with Simon.
Tess and Sophie become Alice’s support system when she needs them, and once again, there is an authenticity to the performances from Kaniehtiio Horn and Wunmi Mosaku. These two essentially become the voice of the audience, who want to step in, help Alice, and tell her to walk away from her abuser.
Where Alice, Darling is a little less successful is in its storytelling and pacing. The film takes a little too long to get going, and then seems to rush to the finish once it finds its groove.
The picture runs just shy of 90-minutes, but could benefit from being 20-30 minutes longer. It also shares similar themes with pictures such as Sleeping with the Enemy (1991) and The Invisible Man (2020), yet it isn’t as exciting.
That said, tonally Alice, Darling is a different type of movie, which takes a more understated route. So long as you view this film more as a character study, than a high-suspense thriller, it does play better.
Overall, Alice, Darling is a compelling picture, led by a powerful central performance. The film opens up conversations about toxicity, domestic abuse, and issues surrounding mental health, and provides a story which (sadly) many will relate to.
It demonstrates the darker side of relationships, and how they can become all-consuming. It taps into a wider narrative that is a very important topic of discussion right now, and it is handled with care and attention, and a brutal honesty.
Some may find it hard going, but it is a story that needs to be told. It’s not perfect, but it is a strong piece regardless.
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