Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
Parent and child journey through the outskirts of society a decade after a pandemic has wiped out half the world's population. As a father struggles to protect his child, their bond—and the character of humanity—is tested.
Casey Affleck's intimate post-apocalyptic drama succeeds most in its raw, naturalistic performances—Affleck himself and young Anna Pniowsky share a deeply convincing father-daughter bond that anchors the film. The cinematography is quietly striking, favoring close, handheld intimacy and muted forest palettes that reinforce the claustrophobic vulnerability of their existence. The plot, while emotionally resonant, treads familiar post-apocalyptic survival ground and doesn't fully distinguish itself narratively beyond its gender-pandemic conceit. The ending is restrained and appropriately ambiguous but may feel understated to some viewers expecting more dramatic resolution.