Review of Antebellum (2020) by Adamendetail — 20 Dec 2021
Why all the undeserved hate? I do not get why people keep panning this film. It is a psychological thriller that speaks quite aptly to the world we live in by asking a very uncomfortable question. It speaks in particular to race relations in America and questions a world where the fantasies of a violent, regressive and exploitative power is met at the expense of a brutalized, traumatized and oppressed other. All the while these fantasies are supposed to be a pastime that people should have healed and moved on from, in order to face other (newer) challenges. Except - "the past is never dead, it is not even past." This is true & perfect to our time and it is a reality rightly questioned.
Antebellum compresses a lot of political, ideological thinking and societal trauma into this intelligent and brilliant film. Special commendation goes to Janelle Monae who is not an established actress - yet, but she delivers a commanding performance in a movie that is absolutely thrilling to watch. Some have compared this film to Get Out, I must say such comparisons are reductive, deprecatory and unwarranted.
The movie's well shot, possess a great script, has good acting, with wonderful storytelling and it's score is fantastic, paired well with the movie's atmosphere. It's overall, a really good film.
This review of Antebellum (2020) was written by Adamendetail on 20 Dec 2021.
Antebellum has generally received mixed reviews.
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