Mila Kunis is starring in what has become one of my favorite movies of hers. It’s a mystery thriller written by the author of the novel of the same name it’s based on, Jessica Knoll. Mike Barker, who’s produced and directed Fargo, The Handmaid’s Tale, The Sandman, Outlander, and many more, is helming the project. Chiara Aurelia, Finn Wittrock (Ratched, Unbroken), Connie Britton, Scoot McNairy, Jennifer Beals, and Justine Lupe round out the cast.

Premise: A woman in New York, who seems to have things under control, is faced with a trauma that makes her life unravel.

Review: This is the kind of movie I wanted to fast-forward, not because it was boring or cringy, but because I wanted to know how what happened, how TifAni’s story turned out. Thinking back the trailer for this movie was brilliant, it gave us an idea of how dark the story was without revealing the meat of the plot. In fact, I went in with some idea about who Ani was but slowly, through flashbacks and the simmering rage bubbling out of present-day Ani, I changed my mind.

I appreciated that she wasn’t portrayed as someone who felt bad for some of the people – past and present – in her life. I’m trying to stay vague but when you’ll see the movie you’ll know what I mean. It’s even discussed in the film, there are even characters who instinctively use caring, apologetic words about some bad people. It’s not that I don’t believe in redemption but it feels wrong to see it used as armor. I’m not even sure that what’s depicted in the movie is redemption given some of the actions taken by the person in question.

Anyway, Mila Kunis is excellent in this movie, she’s captivating and communicates a lot with her body, the same goes for the amazing actress that plays her younger self, Chiara Aurelia was stellar. I really appreciate how – to me – Ani was in the gray, not a perfect angel, nor a demon. I liked her without much of an effort to make her likable, at least I don’t think she was made to be likable.

This movie is currently high on my favorite book-based movies of the year.

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