Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
In 1988, a teenage girl's life is thrown into chaos when her mother disappears.
Gregg Araki's adaptation of Laura Kasischke's novel is stylishly shot with dream-sequence surrealism and a vivid 1980s aesthetic that elevates the cinematography well above average. Eva Green commands the screen as the volatile, glamorous mother, though the teenage protagonist and supporting cast deliver more uneven performances. The mystery-thriller plot has atmospheric promise but meanders and loses momentum as it shifts between timelines. The ending, meant to be a shocking reveal, lands as underwhelming and somewhat implausible, undercutting the tension built throughout. Araki's distinctive visual sensibility gives the film a singular look, but it doesn't push his voice into truly new territory beyond his established style.