Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
Jenn has washed ashore a small tropical island and it doesn’t take her long to realize she’s completely alone. She must spend her days not only surviving the elements, but must also fend off the malevolent force that comes out each night.
Sweetheart is a lean, efficiently made creature feature survival film that distinguishes itself through its near-silent, minimalist storytelling — Kiersey Clemons carries most of the film with little dialogue. The island cinematography is competent and atmospheric without being exceptional. The plot is stripped-down and effective but ultimately familiar genre territory. Novelty gets a slight bump for the bold choice to strip away almost all conventional horror exposition and let the protagonist's experience speak for itself, though the creature design and premise are fairly standard. The ending feels abrupt and somewhat unsatisfying, failing to deliver on the tension the film builds, which is its weakest dimension.