Review of The Novice (2021) by Rebecca31 — 03 Apr 2022

The Novice does to rowing what Black Swan did to ballet. An overwhelmingly stressful look into the world of rowing and the effect it can have on one’s life and mental health. College freshman Alex Dall (Isabelle Fuhrman) joins the university’s rowing team in order to gain a chance at getting a scholarship. Alex’s competitive nature and desperate need to be the best both academically and as part of the rowing team quickly turns to obsession which then takes its toll on her, physically and mentally.

Straight away it needs to be said that The Novice is not going to be for everyone. It feels very real and authentic, a deep dive look into the world of rowing. It’s expertly directed by Lauren Hadaway with a stunning performance from Isabelle Fuhrman. At times you do forget you’re watching an actual film here and it feels completely real. This of course only adds to the level of stress and building pressure for the entire film. There is a constant sense of dread for a lot of the film and it’s probably not the right thing to watch for anyone considering getting into rowing. It’s almost frustrating to watch as you see Alex putting herself through this, losing herself in the obsessive drive to be the best whatever the cost. You almost want to jump into the screen and scream at her to stop. A very impressive directorial debut by Lauren Hadaway.

The Novice certainly won’t be to everyone’s tastes, it’s an incredibly stressful watch and not one I’d particularly want to see again as I felt quite drained after it. Best recommended for anyone who liked the look of the trailer.