Review of Unsane (2018) by Joseph D — 24 Mar 2018

I told you, I'm NOT crazy!! I'm...

UNSANE.

Once again, we have a film that reminds us: just 'cause you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get ya. And the crazies are probably right. At 1 hour, 38 minuets, we hit the ground running. Even before the protagonist gets trapped, the lighting, angles, & music all conspire to make the viewer feel a...wrongness with the whole situation. Then she gets committed, & things REALLY take a left turn! The plot felt like it was moving both quickly, & slowly. It was like I was in the hospital with her; I couldn't tell what was false & what wasn't, until the paranoia & sense of isolation were at their peek, & it went from psych thriller to straight up slasher flick (in a good way).

The main protagonist, played by Clair Foy, was the best I've seen in this genre in a long time. Right from the start, you get the sense that, while she has managed to craft a mask of normalcy, she hasn't stopped running on pure animal instinct; this is a person who knows what it feels like to be a mouse under the eyes of a hungry raptor. Slowly but surely, the walls come down, & we get a glimpse into her world. As a person, she's very blunt, & when in a corner, she will not hesitate to use whatever weapons she has on hand, be they physical, or psychological. I found her to be quite engaging, & I hope to see this actress in other, more diverse roles, I wanna see her range.

The villain is- (NO SPOILERS).

The side characters all orbit the main in a very organic fashion. Some help her, some hinder her, & some factor into the plot in important plot-sensitive ways.

This film, IMHO, harkens back to classic thrillers like Marathon Man. I was doubting both the protagonist, & myself, right until the film came to a head. I loved how she interacted with the rest of the cast, & how the whole thing was a guessing game of what, when, where, & how. Unsane is a film that'll make you question your sanity, & those you trust with your safety. It's a 4 star out've 5 film that reminds us that the only universal constants are: death, taxes, & paranoia IS your friend!

#ImNotCrazy.