Let’s get a bit odd.
Resurrection is a new psychological thriller that follows Margaret (Rebecca Hall) as she leads her controlled life until David (Tim Roth), a man from her past reappears and threatens to ruin everything.
Let’s start off by saying this is yet another film that shows Rebecca Hall is one of the best actors in the business. She is marvelous here as a woman coming apart from stress and fear. Tim Roth is likewise sinister in his presence, but this is Hall’s show through and through.
The first time Margaret sees David she has a panic attack and must literally run home to make sure her daughter is okay. We then see David reappearing at other places where Margaret just happens to be. Since police don’t care about stalking until it is too late, she is basically stuck having to figure out what he wants.
As the history of these two people unravels it becomes clear that this is as much a trauma narrative as a thriller. How far will David go? How far will Margaret go? The film pulls no punches in the tension as things continue to escalate and get increasingly unhinged.
The film is well-paced for the most part, and while aspects of it are predictable others are most certainly not. The endless tension is only alleviated by scenes that are equally nerve wracking but not as dangerous for the characters. Margaret’s world collapses around her.
This is a tough one to review because the latter half of the narrative requires a spoiler from the first half. The spoiler is interesting, and shows a level of controlling narcissism I haven’t seen explored before. Anchored by fantastic performances, this one should have been an absolute slam dunk.
However, despite the great acting, directing, pacing, and style this one didn’t grab me as much as I wanted it to. Hall’s Night House and Roth’s Sundown are recent films that showcase these two amazing talents that grabbed me in a more profound way.
The film makes some powerful points, and dances with important topics regarding abuse, control, and trauma. However, it also has to construct the twist, which can distract from these moments. I liked it a lot but did not love it, and I wonder how many horror fans will feel the same. It is weird to say “Wow that was a damn good movie through and through” and “I thought it was good not great” at the same time. I stalled writing this review for a few days to see if I would thaw to it, and while it is worth seeing (for the performances alone) it just didn’t grab me.
Worth a watch.
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