yuck

This film had potential, and being a fan of Moss' other work I really wanted to like it. But jeez, what a waste.

Positives:
- Performances, Moss especially.
- Nice cinematography, if a little rough around the edges
- Score did its job
- I always admire a script that demands a low budget

And that's about it.

Some of the dialogue was interesting here and there, but overall I hated this script. I understand that these women's horrible excuse for a friendship is the whole focus of the movie, but could their dynamic have been convincingly positive for at least ONE scene? I kept thinking back to Melancholia, another film where people talk to each other LIKE NO ONE TALKS EVER. Unlike Melancholia, the whole of this film is sadly not greater than the sum of its wonky parts.

For starters, Virginia is just about the least likeable character I've ever seen in a film. So repugnant at every turn, whether confessing an utter lack of empathy toward friends who "bum her out," or describing herself as aristocracy, or just being plain horrible to her "best friend" who just got dumped AND lost her father to suicide. And why is she so mean? Because last year her friend, blinded by love, pulled an inconsiderate move and invited her boyfriend to the lakehouse while Virginia was having a hard time about... something...

If that's supposed to make me feel like Catherine deserved any of the abuse she received in this film, then the film failed spectacularly. Seriously, WHY was everyone so horrible to her? Rich calling her a spoiled brat? Dawg, look at the girl you're sleeping with! For christ's sake, that flashback scene where we are introduced to Rich and everyone starts laying into Catherine about her "lame" job working for her famous artist father... I guess Virginia was just lashing out? Because she was so salty about Catherine bringing her boyfriend? But c'mon, it was just *beep* behavior, completely unprovoked, and no one else seemed to flinch, not even Catherine's *beep* boyfriend. And later, we have to listen to Virginia monologuing about cutting her enemies out of her life? Seems like you suck at it. Seems like you're deadset on not only keeping your enemy around, but vindictively torturing her and making you her enemy as well.

All of this stuff could've been spun into a much better film, one where the reality of Virginia and Catherine's toxic friendship comes as a slow-burn "surprise" and not something thats painfully evident from their first minute onscreen together. Otherwise, what does the film have to sink our teeth into? Another hackneyed portrayal of a mental breakdown, that feels neither insightful nor sensitive with regard to real mental health issues. In some instances, we are meant to feel that Catherine is the only sane one (her screenwriter-soapbox rant against the painfully two-dimensional Rich), and in others we're meant to feel pity for her. Then there's this third mode of revulsion, or contempt, where maybe we are supposed to side with Virginia and Rich? And finally, the vague horror we feel when she's at her creepiest and seemingly about to murder somebody. But what does all of that add up to? Poorly-defined characters and themes.

I'm sorry, I know this film has its fans, and I'm not one to come on here and start calling people idiots. If you loved this movie, I'm happy for you. I wish I had loved it. I wanted to, I really did. But what I saw was a terribly written slog with very few good ideas, just a bunch of atmosphere and technical competence frittered away over 90 minutes. Yuck.

For the record, I don't mind the super-vague ending (though I can't say I love it). The addition of red to Catherine's painting says enough to give the audience something to work with. So I don't want anyone to assume that my displeasure stems from the abrupt non-resolution. That was fine. Everything else was the problem.