It won’t let go.|Apr. 30, 2021|United States|107 Min.|R
Genre: Horror
Description: William Brent Bell’s film “Separation” is a deeply flawed production, failing to succeed as either a domestic drama or a horror movie. It’s the kind of project that might leave everyone involved questioning its purpose in therapy sessions down the line. The movie comes across as misogynistic, seemingly inspired by a drunken man’s paranoid musings about whether his ex-wife could haunt him from beyond the grave. Critics are often accused of overanalyzing films for political or social themes, but here, the two main female characters are so poorly and cruelly defined in relation to the male lead that it’s hard to ignore. The only supportive figures in the story are the protagonist’s male colleagues, adding to the imbalance.
Even if one disregards its questionable portrayal of women, the film remains shallow and lacks genuine scares. It concludes with a twist that’s both predictable and absurd—a hallmark of the director’s previous works like “Brahms: The Boy II” and “The Devil Inside.” Among his films, this might be the weakest.
The story begins as a seemingly straightforward domestic drama. Maggie Vahn (played by Mamie Gummer) decides she’s had enough of her husband Jeff (Rupert Friend), an underachieving artist. The early scenes suggest that someone involved in the production had a messy divorce, as Maggie is portrayed as an exaggerated villain, berating her passive husband. Jeff, despite his inability to provide for the family, is framed as a sympathetic character pursuing his artistic dreams.
Cast director: William Brent Bell
Cast actor: Brian Cox, Rupert Friend, Madeline Brewer, Violet McGraw, Mamie Gummer, Troy James, Simon Quarterman
Original name: Separation