Review of Unsane (2018) by Landon J — 05 Dec 2018

The most tense film of 2018.

Unsane (2018) is the mind bending psychological thriller from Steven Soderbergh. It is gripping from beginning to end. I found Unsane's atmosphere to be constantly unsettling. The angles used, the way characters stare, the isolated setting, and the helpless feeling that you get at every moment is just excellent. Soderbergh's direction is impeccable as he navigates from unique scene to unique scene. He made the suspense unbearable and the sequences compelling. Unsane is a fascinating portrayal of the mentally insane and the psychologically strained.

I cannot believe that Unsane was shot entirely on an iPhone. It sounds ridiculous, but Unsane has the look of a real movie. Beautiful wide shots of the forest, mental facility, and solitary confinement rooms grace the screen in stunning high definition. I am truly impressive by how Soderbergh directed Unsane. From the same details in the background to set up scary moments to the unnerving tightness of his close up shots. Unsane looks remarkable!

The realness of the script is also a pleasant surprise. It's quite refreshing to hear characters talk like how real people speak in conversation. Unsane's dialogue felt normal and believable despite its wild and disconcerting premise.

The score is on a level all its own. A majority of Unsane is deathly quiet aside from ambient noises in a mental hospital or the patients screaming out. However, when the score chimes in, you are completely held in suspense at the eerie sounds and throttling music that blasts out at you. It's sometimes nauseating to strangely comforting. Unsane sounds outstanding.

Now, I must mention the absolutely phenomenal performance from Claire Foy as the protagonist Sawyer Valentini. Her violent outbursts and hectic scrambling is as entertaining to watch as her frustrated monologues and annoyed sarcastic comments. I really love Claire Foy as an actress now. She has shown respectable versatility between the heavy drama of The Crown to the insane trauma of Unsane. I eagerly look forward to her next role!

Finally, the supporting cast is fantastic accompaniment to Foy's manic undoing performance. Jay Pharoah's presence as Nate Hoffman is likable and cathartic compared to the oddity of the mental hospital. He comes across as very genuine. Juno Temple is hilarious and shocking as mental patient Violet. I am pleased at her portrayal of a sincerely disturbed girl. Last but certainly not least, Joshua Leonard is so creepy and horrifying as the stalker figure David Strine. He plays it so calmly at first that I was constantly questioning if he was the villain. By the end, Leonard had my jaw dropped, so just wait for his breakdown.

In all, Unsane is one of the must watch movies from 2018. It took me by surprise with its unorthodox cinematography, improbable premise, chilling performances, and stunning style. Check out Unsane if you want to feel uncomfortable.